ABSTRACT
The nine chapters in this book have highlighted the depth of Sino — Middle Eastern relations from the Silk Road to the current Arab Spring. China is increasingly viewing the region as strategic to its national interests defined in terms of territorial integrity, regime survival and economic prosperity. On these three fronts, the Middle East is exceptionally vital to China. In sovereignty and territorial integrity vis-à-vis the three core issues of Xinjiang, Tibet and Taiwan, Middle East support is of paramount importance to China. Xinjiang is spiritually and historically linked to the Middle East with ethnic and religious bonds. Middle Eastern people are also very concerned about religious freedom in China and its treatment of Muslims, especially in Xinjiang. They are horrified at the level of violence used against civilians during frequent conflicts in the province, most recently in the summer of 2009.
