Israel’s Challenge of Stability in the Context of BRI’s East Mediterranean Policies

Öz

Middle Eastern countries are predisposed to forging new partnerships to survive the slippery slope for balance of power in the region. In terms of this international balance of power and cross-regional cooperation between any Middle Eastern country and another non-regional partner, China-Israeli relations provide a good example of this unusual type of new governance and partnership. This article aims to describe the relationship between one Middle Eastern and one Far Eastern country while considering recent developments in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Although many scholars argue that China's grand foreign affairs strategy, known as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is at the focal point of the two nations’ new understanding of convergence, the sustainability of the relations is worth of inquiry from an academic perspective.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• BRI
• Israel
• China
• East Mediterranean
• US

Israel’s Challenge of Stability in the Context of BRI’s East Mediterranean Policies

Öz

BRI'nin Doğu Akdeniz Politikaları Bağlamında İsrail’in İstikrar Sınaması

Öz: Günümüzde Ortadoğu ülkeleri bölgedeki güç dengesinin kaygan zemininde ayakta kalabilmek için yeni ortaklıklara yatkındır. Uluslararası güç dengesinin değişimi ve herhangi bir Ortadoğu ülkesi ile bölge dışı bir aktörünün bölgeler arası iş birliğinden bahsederken Çin-İsrail ilişkileri yeni küresel yönetişime ve alışılmadık bir ortaklığa uygun bir örnek olacaktır. Bu makale bir Ortadoğu ülkesi ile bir Uzak Doğu ülkesi arasındaki ilişkileri Doğu Akdeniz’deki son gelişmeler ışığında tasvir etmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Bu bağlamda pek çok akademisyen, Çin'in Kuşak ve Yol Girişimi (BRI, Tek Kuşak ve Tek Yol Girişimi) adlı büyük dış ilişkiler stratejisinin, iki ülkenin yeni yakınlaşma anlayışının odak noktasında olduğunu iddia etseler de ilişkilerin sürdürülebilirliği ve istikrar problemi akademik bir bakış açısıyla araştırmaya değerdir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• BRI
• İsrail
• Çin
• Doğu Akdeniz
• ABD

Kaynakça

1. Ahren, Raphael. 2018. “Has Israel made a huge mistake letting a Chinese firm run part of Haifa port?.” 20 December. Times of Israel. https://www.timesofisrael.com/has-israel-make-a-huge-mistake-letting-a-chinese-firm-run-part-of-haifa-port/. Accessed: 20.03.2020.
2. Baker, Peter. 2019. “Trump Blames ‘Treasonous’ Critics for Russia Inquiry.” 25 March. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/25/us/politics/trump-russia.html?rref=collection%2Fnewseventcollection%2Frussian-election-hacking, Accessed: 29.03.2020.
3. Ben-Eliezer, Uri. 1998. The Making of Israeli Militarism. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
4. Berger, Stefan. 2008. “Nation-building and regional integration, c.1800–1914: the role of empires.” European Review of History: Revue (européenne d’histoire). 15(3). 317-330. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13507480802082649
5. Central Bureau of Statistics of State of Israel (2018), Population of State of Israel, https://www.cbs.gov.il/he/pages/default.aspx, Accessed: 18.03.2020.
6. Chaziza, Mordechai. 2018. “China’s Military Base in Djibouti,”” Mideast Security and Policy Studies. 153(0). https://besacenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/153-Chaziza-Chinas-Military-Base-in-Djibouti-web.pdf. Accessed: 15.03.2020.
7. Chaziza, Mordechai. 2016. “”The Red-Med Railway: New Opportunities for China, Israel, and the Middle East.”” BESA Center Perspectives Paper 385(0). https://besacenter.org/perspectives-papers/385-chaziza-the-red-med-railway-new-opportunities-for-china-israel-and-the-middle-east/. Accessed: 19.03.2020.
8. Chinapower.csis.org. nd. “How much trade transits the South China Sea?.” Accessed: 19.21.2020.

9. Efron, Shira, Howard J. Shatz, Arthur Chan, Emily Haskel, Lyle J. Morris, and Andrew Scobell, The Evolving Israel-China Relationship. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2019. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2641.html. Also available in print form.
10. Evron, Yoram. 2013. “”Between Beijing and Washington: Israel's Technology Transfers to China.” Journal of East Asian Studies, 13(3) 503-528. URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/26335261.
11. Fandos, Nicholas and Adam Goldman. 2019. “Mueller Report Exceeds 300 Pages, Raising Questions About Four-Page Summary.” https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/28/us/politics/mueller-report-length.html?rref=collection%2Fnewseventcollection%2Frussian-election-hacking. 28 March. The New York Times. Accessed: 30.03.2020.
12. Friedman. George. 2013. “Lessons in Unification: Germany's History and the E.U.'s Future.” https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/lessons-unification-germanys-history-and-eus-future. 13 August. Stratfor. Accessed: 18.09.2020.
13. לביא,גליה, ודורון אלה. 2018.קשרי ישראל-סין: ידידות מתפתחת או מקור לדאגה?.11 November.https://www.inss.org.il/he/publication/israel-china-ties-a-developing-friendship-that-is-cause-for-concern/. Accessed:23.03.2020.
14. GlobalEdge. 2018. “Israel: Trade Statistics” https://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/israel/tradestats#source_1. Accessed: 21.03.2019.
15. Guler, Sena. 2019. “Turkey, Russia, Iran back Syria's territorial integrity.” 2 February. Anadolu Agency. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/turkey-russia-iran-back-syrias-territorial-integrity/1393235. Accessed: 23.03.2020.
16. Halon, Eytan. 2018. “Chinese Infrastructure Giants Set Sights On Increased Israel Activity.” 9 December. Jerusalem Post. https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/How-Israel-and-China-are-increasing-their-cooperation-on-the-railways-573678. Accessed: 24.03.2020.
17. Hang, N. 2017. The Rise of China: Challenges, Implications, and Options for the United States. Indian Journal of Asian Affairs, 30(1/2), 47-64. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26465816
18. Haaretz. 2019 “Bolton Relays Concerns to Netanyahu Over Chinese Investment in Israel, US Official Says.” 10 January. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/netanyahu-and-bolton-concerned-over-chinese-telecom-companies-u-s-official-says-1.6827512. Access: 20.03.2020.
19. Huan, Guocang. 1986. “China’s Open Door Policy, 1978-1984.” Journal of International Affairs,9(2), 1-18.
20. Ho, David. 2017. “Cost of funding ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ is daunting task”, 27 September, South China Morning Post, https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/special-report-belt-and-road/article/2112978/cost-funding-belt-and. Accessed: 20.03.2020.
21. Kimmerling, Baruch. 1993. “Patterns of militarism in Israel.” European Journal of Sociology, 34(2), 196-223. www.jstor.org/stable/23999468.
22. Lavi, Galia, Jingjie He and Oded Eran. 2015.” China and Israel: On the Same Belt and Road?.” Strategic Assessment. 18(3). 81-90.
23. Liqiang, Hou, 2017. “Greener Beijing mapped out by 2030. 29 March. ChinaDaily. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2017-03/29/content_28714022.htm. Accessed: 19.03.2020.
24. Liu, Tao and Wing Thye Woo, 2018. “Understanding the US-China Trade War.” China Economic Journal. 11(3). 319-340. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17538963.2018.1516256
25. OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). 2018, "Executive summary", in OECD Economic Surveys: Israel 2018, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/eco_surveys-isr-2018-2-en.
26. Pauley, Logan and Jesse Marks. 2018. “Is China Increasing Its Military Presence in Syria?.” 20 August. The Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/2018/08/is-china-increasing-its-military-presence-in-syria/. Accessed: 23.03.2020.
27. People’s Daily Online. 2018. “Chinese railway technologies promoting light rail construction in Israel." 28 June. http://en.people.cn/n3/2018/0628/c90000-9475872.html. Accessed: 24.03.2020.
28. PortSEurope. 2018. “Haifa container terminal deal with China’s SIPG under review. https://www.portseurope.com/haifa-container-terminal-deal-with-chinas-sipg-under-review/. 23 December. Accessed: 19.03.2020.
29. Reuters.com. 2018. Belt and Road Initiative is not a Chinese plot, Xi says, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-boao-bri/belt-and-road-initiative-is-not-a-chinese-plot-xi-says-idUSKBN1HI1HC, 11 April. Accessed: 17.03.2020.
30. SCPRC (State Council of Peoples Republic of China). 2015. “Action plan on the Belt and Road Initiative.” 30 March. http://english.gov.cn/archive/publications/2015/03/30/content_281475080249035.htm, Accessed: 15.03.2020.
31. SCPRC (State Council of Peoples Republic of China). 2016. “Full text of China’s Arab Policy Paper.” 13 January. http://english.gov.cn/archive/publications/2016/01/13/content_281475271412746.htm. Accessed: 25.03.2020.
32. Shichor, Yitzhak. 2005. “The US Factor in Israel Military Relations with China,” China Brief. 5(12).
33. Sputniknews. 2017. “The Dead Sea to Strengthen China's Geopolitical Presence in the Middle East.” 7 June. https://sputniknews.com/world/201706071054397470-china-red-dead-project/. Accessed: 25.03.2020.
34. Staff, Toi(a). 2019. “Shin Bet chief said to warn Chinese investment in Israel poses security threat.” 10 January. Times of Israel. https://www.timesofisrael.com/shin-bet-chief-said-to-warn-chinese-investment-in-israel-poses-security-threat/. Accessed: 20.03.2020.
35. Staff, Toi(b). 2019. “Israel said to bar China, Turkey from bidding for $40 million airport tender.” 25 January. Times of Israel. https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-said-to-bar-china-turkey-from-bidding-for-airport-tender/. Accessed: 21.03.2020.
36. The Economist. 2018. “Israel’s ties with China are raising security concerns.” 11 October. https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2018/10/11/israels-ties-with-china-are-raising-security-concerns. Accessed: 21.03.2020.
37. Weissmann, Mikael. 2015. “”Chinese Foreign Policy in a Global Perspective: A Responsible Reformer "Striving For Achievement”.” Journal of China and International Relations. 3(1), 151-166.DOI: https://doi.org/10.5278/ojs.jcir.v3i1.1143.
38. Wilner, Michael. 2018. “US Navy May Stop Docking In Haifa After Chinese Take Over Port." 15 December. Jerusalem Post. https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/US-Navy-may-stop-docking-in-Haifa-after-Chinese-take-over-port-574414. Accessed: 19.03.2020.
39. Wang, Lirong. 2015. “Sea Lanes and Chinese National Energy Security.” Journal of Coastal Research. 73/0 572-576. http://www.difesa.it/SMD_/CASD/IM/IASD/65sessioneordinaria/Documents/SeaLanesandChineseNatEnergySec.pdf. Accessed: 24.03.2020.
40. Williams, Dan. 2012. “Israel plans Red-Med rail link to take Suez overflow.” 29 January. Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/article/israel-railway/israel-plans-red-med-rail-link-to-take-suez-overflow-idUSL5E8CT0CN20120129. Accessed: 19.03.2020.
41. Wong, Dorcas and Alexander Chipman Koty. 2019. The US-China Trade War: A Timeline. 25 February. https://www.china-briefing.com/news/the-us-china-trade-war-a-timeline/. Accessed: 25.03.2020.
42. Wroughton, Lesley and Justyna Pawlak. 2019. “US meeting on Middle East brings together Israel, Gulf Arab states.” February 14. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-summit/u-s-meeting-on-middle-east-brings-together-israel-gulf-arab-states-idUSKCN1Q22E2. Accessed: 23.03.2020.
43. Wurmser, David. 2013. “The Geopolitics of Israel’s Offshore Gas Reserves.” 4 April..Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. http://jcpa.org/article/the-geopolitics-of-israels-offshore-gas-reserves/. Accessed: 18.03.2020.
44. Xiaodong, Chen. 2017. “Assistant Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong Attends Opening Ceremony of Palestinian-Israeli Peace Symposium.” 22 December. https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/wjb_663304/zzjg_663340/xybfs_663590/xwlb_663592/t1522092.shtml. Accessed: 22.03.2020.
45. Xian, XIAO. 2016. “The “Belt and Road Initiative” and China-Israeli Relations”, Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies (in Asia), 10:3, 1-23, DOI: 10.1080/19370679.2016.12023285
46. Vakil, Sanam. 2018. “China & Middle East: Regional Rebalancing.” 4 October. https://www.hoover.org/research/china-middle-east-regional-rebalancing, Accessed: 16.03.2020.
47. Yablanko, Yasmin and Uri Berkovitz. 2019. “Israeli high-tech cos caught in US-China crossfire.” 7 January. Globes. https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israeli-hightech-cos-caught-in-uschina-crossfire-1001268053. Accessed: 19.03.2020.
48. Yellinek, Roie. 2018. “The Israel-China-US Triangle and the Haifa Port Project.” 18 November. Middle East Institute. https://www.mei.edu/publications/israel-china-us-triangle-and-haifa-port-project. Accessed: 19.03.2019.

Zhen, Liu. 2017. “Why is China so worried about Trump recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital?.” https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/community/article/2123202/why-china-so-worried-about-us-recognising-jerusalem-israels. 6 December. South China Morning Post. Accessed: 10.03.2020.
49. Zhou, Laura. 2017. “Chinese firm shortlisted for Middle East’s ‘Red-Dead’ water project.” 4 June. South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2096814/chinese-firm-poised-advance-middle-east-peace-process. Accessed: 20.03.2020.