Oriental Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences invites you to lecture
China in the Middle East: Interests, War, and Strategic Challenges
SPEAKER: Dr. Michal ZELCER-LAVID (Bar-Ilan University)
DATE: Tuesday 13 May 2025 at 3 PM
VENUE: Akademie věd ČR, Národní 2, Praha 1, sál 206
The lecture offers a critical examination of China’s evolving role in the Middle East, focusing not merely on Beijing’s growing presence but on the inherent tensions and contradictions that define it. While China has positioned itself as a neutral economic partner committed to development, its simultaneous ties with rival actors—Israel and Iran, Hamas and the Gulf states—highlight a complex balancing act that is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain. Using the recent “Swords of Iron” War (2023) as a case study, the lecture analyzes how China’s official rhetoric, media narratives, and diplomatic behavior reflect both strategic caution and shifting geopolitical ambitions.
Registration not required. The event is not streamed or recorded.
Contact: Ms. Adriana Dolejší, orient@orient.cas.cz
