Solidarity Between China and the Arab Region: China-Arab States Cooperation Forum as Soft Balancing

Abstract

This study examined the appearance of solidarity between China and the Arab region by analyzing the declarations and joint statements derived from the ministerial-level meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. Furthermore. China utilizes this solidarity to achieve a soft balancing against the existing Western-centered international order. The subjects of analysis were nine declarations/joint statements uploaded on the official website of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (2004 to 2020), and research method is content analysis. As a result of the study, words showing soft balancing such as UN reform, opposition to interference in domestic affairs, and democratization of international relations emerged, and the tendency of soft balancing became stronger over time.