Is China Winning the Middle East?

Pakistan: Hardline Islamists released six Chinese female hostages and one man this weekend after a 17-hour kidnapping. The issue: the Chinese were running a brothel. Technically, they called it a message parlor. That's not the point. The point is this.

The Financial Times quotes: "The incident threatened to dent Pakistan's relations with China, it's closest ally, and the Islamists later claimed to have freed the captives to preserve the bilateral relations with Beijing."

When did China become Pakistan's closest ally? When did radical Islamists care about international relations? With all we have done for President Musharraf, they still see China as their closest ally. This comes off the recent negotiations between Iraq and China. And we all know that China isn't taking the hardline stance on Iran that most of the developed world is calling for.

This trend highlights something uniquely Chinese. They're relations with foreign countries are strictly business. They don't swoop in with the flag of moral superiority. And it seems to be working. Look at the response. Iraq, Iran, Pakistan are all courting China. I'm sure they see this as the natural balance to U.S. imperialism.

That should be good for Chinese multi-nationals.

Until next time,
Christopher Hancock

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