ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explains the growth in China's relations with the Gulf monarchies, a group of six states that comprise the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). It offers three case studies that chart the progression of bilateral relations between China and Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These three cases were chosen to demonstrate the different interests met for China in its relations with the member states of the GCC. The book then focuses on China's international political orientation in order to understand the importance of Sino-GCC relations from a Chinese perspective. It also examines the Sino-GCC relationship from the Gulf monarchies' side. The book analyses the China's relations with Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar during the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) period.
