Connecting China's economic interests to its military-security strategy in the Middle East and North Africa

Since the early 1990s, China has moved its energy supply to develop and expand cooperation with countries in the MENA region. The country also intensified its cooperation with the countries of the MENA region in 2004 by establishing the Arab-Chinese Cooperation Forum. China's economic presence in the MENA region is growing. The main question of the article is how will the Chinese military-security presence in the MENA region increase? The paper hypothesizes that China's growing economic presence and investment require a military presence to secure it. Findings show that increasing China's interests in the MENA region (maintaining energy security, protecting half a million citizens and investment companies) will be the main reason for the increase in China's security-military presence and influence in the MENA region. By applying the theory of realism and descriptive-analytical method, the relevant issues will be tried and examined. The documentary method will also be the basis for collecting material in this article.