МОРСКОЙ ШЕЛКОВЫЙ ПУТЬ ХХІ ВЕКА И ВЗАИМООТНОШЕНИЯ КИТАЯ СО СТРАНАМИ АРАБСКОГО ВОСТОКА

Abstract. The article analyzes the policy of the People's Republic of China within the framework of the «21st Century Maritime Silk Road» initiative in the Middle East. It examines the main trends in the development of China's modern military policy as well as its military-political interests in the region. Particular attention is given to Beijing's strategic interests in the waters of the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean, along with an analysis of China's relations with the leading states of the Middle East. The article defines the role and significance of Arab countries in China's geopolitical strategy and identifies Beijing's key political priorities in the region. Additionally, it explores the geopolitical foundations of the «Belt and Road Initiative» and China's economic interests in the Middle East. The author concludes that the Middle East is becoming an increasingly important direction in China's foreign policy in the context of implementing the large-scale infrastructure project «Belt and Road Initiative», which aims to foster regional cooperation, strengthen trade and economic ties, and expand investment interactions between the East and the West.