Asia–Middle East Relations and the Global Power Dynamic: Insights from the Israel-Hamas War

This article examines the reactions of Asia’s main powers—China, India, and Japan—to the Israel-Hamas war as a case study of their involvement in Middle East conflicts, finding both that relations with the U.S. are a primary factor in their positions and that their willingness for active involvement remains limited. main argument Interactions between Asia and the Middle East are significantly intensifying in the 21st century. However, the reciprocal influence between these regions is still in its early stages and the full nature of these relations remains to be understood. Mega-events in the Middle East, such as the Israel-Hamas war, provide unique occasions to examine the changing involvement of Asian powers in the region. While India’s and Japan’s pragmatic approaches to the Middle East are constrained by domestic factors, China takes a more strategic approach. It effectively leverages regional crises to further its foreign policy goals, tactically using domestic voices as instruments to advance its international agenda. policy implications • Relations with the U.S. are the primary factor shaping the positions of China, India, and Japan on Middle East conflicts. However, India’s calculations are notably intricate due to its heightened sensitivity to domestic Muslim resentment. • China and Japan are increasing their diplomatic involvement in Middle East conflicts to elevate their global political profiles, but they remain unwilling to play an active role. China compensates for this with inflammatory rhetoric. • China leverages Middle East conflicts to strengthen its leadership position within the global South bloc, consequently testing the limits of its “everyone’s friend” policy in the region. Similarly for India, maintaining a neutral stance and enhancing its influence within the global South are key considerations.