China and the Gulf: An Economic Partnership Facing Tests of Security and Interests
An Associated Press report reveals the arrival of Chinese technology with the Houthis, raising questions about Gulf security and China's interests
Translated by Qiyas from النهار — Original source
When Chinese technology reaches weapons that threaten Gulf states, partnership with Beijing becomes a security issue touching upon national and regional security, not merely commercial interests. Gulf-China relations are no longer just an exchange of oil, goods, and investments; they have become a broad strategic partnership. However, recent international reports regarding the arrival of advanced Chinese components, such as heat-resistant resins and precision guidance parts, with the Iran-backed Houthi group, as well as Iranian arms using regional chaos as a platform to threaten stability, place this relationship before a sensitive test and a crucial historical turning point, raising a legitimate question: How can China benefit from Gulf security and prosperity while its companies’ products and technologies reach entities that threaten that stability?
From Trade to Gulf Security Threats
Recent international reports, most notably an investigation published by the Associated Press in October 2026, revealed Houthi attempts to obtain Chinese components to develop medium-range ballistic missiles, inspired by the Iranian Kheibar Shekan missile. Although the presence of these components does not prove direct involvement by the Chinese government, it raises serious questions about Beijing’s oversight of exports by companies and intermediaries, especially when sensitive technologies reach armed groups threatening regional security and international navigation.
China’s Dual Interests
China enjoys immense economic and strategic interests in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, with Saudi Arabia at the forefront, where annual trade with Beijing exceeds $100 billion. Conversely, China maintains close economic ties with Iran, which supports armed groups targeting the security of Gulf states and their interests. Here lies the paradox: China benefits from Gulf stability and prosperity, while supply chains linked to its products and technologies remain a potential source for enhancing the capabilities of entities that threaten that stability.
Saudi Arabia: Significant Economic and Diplomatic Weight
Saudi Arabia, given its economic and political weight, possesses important tools to influence Chinese calculations, particularly within a unified Gulf position. Reuters reported last September that Beijing asked Tehran to intervene to contain the Houthis, in response to a Saudi diplomatic move, confirming the existence of channels that can be built upon. However, what is required goes beyond diplomatic messages to clear, verifiable Chinese commitments through five interrelated paths:
1. Diplomatically: Launching a Gulf-China security dialogue to review evidence and monitor exports of sensitive technologies.
2. Economically: Leveraging Gulf trade and investment weight to incorporate security considerations into future partnerships, without harming shared interests.
3. Legally: Pursuing companies and intermediaries involved in illegal supply operations based on evidence and international rulings.
4. Strategically: Diversifying international partnerships and strengthening Gulf industries to reduce dependence on any single party.
5. Security-wise: Urging Beijing to use its influence with Tehran to halt the flow of weapons and military technologies to armed groups.
A Partnership of Interests Does Not Mean Overlooking Threats
It is unrealistic to demand that China abandon its relations with Iran, but it is legitimate to demand that those relations not come at the expense of Gulf security. The requirement is not to force Beijing to choose between the Gulf and Iran, but to make it realize that the continuity of its economic interests with GCC states is also linked to its responsibility to prevent the flow of sensitive military technologies to entities that threaten their security.
The unified Gulf position, led by Saudi Arabia and grounded in resolute diplomacy and carefully calibrated economic tools, can pave the way for reshaping relations with China on a more balanced footing. The message to Beijing is clear: we welcome China as a partner in development and prosperity, but a genuine partnership is not measured by the volume of trade alone, but by respect for mutual security and sovereign interests. The security of the Gulf is not a price that can be traded for economic interests.
