ABSTRACT
This chapter analyzes the international political environment of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in order to determine the motivation for leaders in the Gulf to pursue stronger relationships with the People's Republic of China (PRC). It explains the importance of the GCC as part of the Gulf sub-system within the larger Middle Eastern system. The chapter also analyzes the security environment of the GCC at the systemic and state levels. It examines two strategies the Gulf Arab monarchies have adopted to maintain their sovereignty: alliances with external powers, and the creation of the GCC. The advantage of their resource wealth makes the GCC states' continued sovereignty a concern for many other states. The USA, with its regional security architecture and unparalleled power projection capabilities, remains the important external power in the Gulf, and as such is a crucial ally for each of the GCC states.
