ABSTRACT
The thought of China encouraging democracy in the Islamic world challenges the popular assumption that Beijing is committed to exporting its own version of authoritarianism in opposition to Western-inspired liberalism. China's multiple alliances throughout the Islamic world are particularly alarming to Western powers because they crisscross the land and sea routes that dominate the lifelines of global commerce and raw materials supplies. During Barak Obama's presidency, China has continued the steady westward expansion of its economic and political influence into Central Asia and the Middle East. Building trust with Middle Eastern and Islamic countries is the highest hurdle for China and the USA, but defining common problems and projects requires the most imagination and willingness to experiment. The USA can draw on a rich community of scholars, business people, and volunteer workers with direct experience in all Muslim societies, but their insights carry little weight in foreign policy circles.
