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This paper attempts to understand the Sino-Mideast relations in terms of energy cooperation and the subsequent cooperation in the areas of trade and arms sales. It also examines the political economy of China’s energy policy toward the Middle East. The paper argues that the objective of China’s engagement in the Middle East is energy security rather than undermining the United States’ interests in the region. Contrary to realist assumptions, China is utilizing the existing Western institutions to achieve its goals in the region, a step highly welcomed and encouraged by Middle Eastern states. The paper attempts to develop a tridimensional and triangular approach to the political economy of the region in relation to the rapid pace of China’s involvement in the Middle East. Such involvement is generating substantial intellectual interests and anxiety among major players in the region in terms of its nature, goals and mechanisms. In so doing, China maintains a balance in its relations with protagonists in the region and skillfully navigates its national interest in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper surveys the military aspect of the age-long interaction between China and Africa, and how it impacts the peace of Africa. Issues that border on China-Africa relations have no doubt gained currency in academic discourses centering mainly on trade, and economic related factors. But the military dimensions of the relationship, especially China's military involvement in Africa are passing with minimal scholarly attention, yet needing examination. Within the general ambit of China's expanding engagement in Africa, this paper discusses the military factor. It historically contextualizes China-African military links, and argues that China's continued arms sales to Africa's problem areas, cynical military relations and support to rogue and blood-thirst regimes, and her doubledealing peacekeeping roles in Africa, do not help the peace condition of Africa's wobbling states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the U. S. role in cross-strait relations before and after the political power transition in Taiwan during 2008. It explores the question of whether a new dynamic is shaping the Beijing-Taipei-Washington trilateral relations with the significant relaxation of cross-strait relations, and how that affects Washington's ability to influence the direction of cross-strait relations in the future. More specifically the paper analyzes the role the United States played in shaping the new reality in the Taiwan Straits, and the evolving thinking on Taiwan in American strategic and political circles. It will also discuss how Washington has managed the cross-strait relations so far as well as how Beijing and Taipei have handled the American factor on some sensitive issues. Finally it will look at the potential benefits and limitations that the United States could contribute to achieving a higher level of reconciliation and integration between the two sides across the Taiwan Straits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Russo–Chinese relations in all their aspects are immensely important for Asian and global security. This article focuses on regional trends in their military relations and finds them to be much more complicated and ambivalent than both Moscow and Beijing would have us believe. Although both sides profess ever-greater identity of interests, and some Russian writers have even postulated a security community between them, the facts show much more Russian ambivalence about Chinese probes against Japan and Southeast Asia. Nevertheless, Russia is driven by its standing vis-à-vis the United States more than by regional considerations in its China policy and is thus vulnerable to Chinese influence to reverse previously held policies, in this case selling China newer and better weapons systems than it sells to India. Accordingly, these trends bear careful scrutiny because of their profound implications for both countries, Asia, and the world. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]