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American officials are concerned about China’s efforts to displace US influence in the Middle East, according to recent comments from a US Air Force commander.
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US Central Command Air Forces Central Commander and Combined Forces Air Component Commander Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich said the region is a fertile ground for strategic competition with China and Russia, during a Defense Writers Group meeting on 4 October.
“What I think is a reasonable assertion (for China), though, is that where economic interests start, military interests will follow to protect those economic interests,” said Lt Gen Grynkewich.
“Over time … there is a risk of Chinese expansion into the region militarily.
“To the extent that there are ‘mil-to-mil’ relationships with China in the region, they are very transactional. What I emphasise to our partners is when you work with the Chinese, you are getting a transaction.”
China is primarily working to supplant the United States through economic means and through the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as financing infrastructure projects, he said.
“When was the last time the Chinese used their military presence to do something like intercept lethal aid going to the Houthis?” he asked.
“They’ve never done it. They’ve never done something like that.”
The US has traditionally held a strong presence in the Middle East with numerous operations to deter Iran and defeat extremist groups through generational-strategic partnerships.
Lt Gen Grynkewich said the US will be closely watching a Chinese base set up in neighbouring Djibouti at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, as well as an increasing amount of Chinese telecommunications technology being utilised in the region.
“If that kind of infrastructure comes in and it starts to touch networks, you start to see a risk to US forces and US technical capabilities because of the collection capabilities that might come with that,” he said.
“We do watch that closely.”
