Motivation for the development of China-Kurdistan relations

Abstract

The relationship between China and the Kurdistan Region is relatively new, as it started after the fall of the Ba'ath regime in post-2003 Iraq. The main question of this study is, what are the main motivations of China in its relations with the Kurdistan Region? For the sake of answering this question through a theoretical approach, this paper relies on the concepts of soft power and development. Both concepts are argued to guide and construct the Chinese foreign policy in the Middle East. Methodologically, this research is a qualitative one, benefitting from qualitative data and analysis. This research puts forward the argument that China's relations with the Kurdistan Region are based on soft power calculations relying on economic and commercial means. China refrains from political interference as it perceives and handles the relations with the Kurdistan Region from the perspective of China’s Iraq policy. This study has concluded that trade and economic factors are steering the China-Kurdistan Region’s relationship, and so far relations have not reached the political or strategic level. Two factors are hindering the development of relations into the political sphere. First, China prefers establishing relations with states, rather than non-state entities like Kurdistan Region, as it struggles with a similar problem at home. Second, the Kurdistan Region is politically and militarily affiliated with the United States, which makes China-Kurdistan's relations stop on economic and trade levels and do not proceed to the political level.