ABSTRACT
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has become increasingly important for Chinese diplomacy. The Chinese diplomats posted to that region play a crucial role as information providers to the policymakers in Beijing. This chapter shows that today’s Chinese diplomats in the wider Middle East can be considered true regional experts. They therefore have the skills to produce high-quality knowledge for policymakers in Beijing. However, as the chapter discusses, there are a number of obstacles that might limit the influence of such expertise, especially regarding non-traditional security threats to Chinese nationals and companies in the region.
