Undeniably, despite all these examples, China's contribution to Middle East security is still modest. But its significance should not be overlooked. China's security engagements are widely regarded as positive both because they take place under the framework of either the United Nations or other international organizations, and because what they provide are truly public goods.

While visiting China's peacekeeping training center in June 2013, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that "China is taking on more responsibility in line with its increasing economic growth. Its dedication and contribution to U.N. peacekeeping missions is crucial for peace and security". His comment could actually be applied to all China's security engagements in the Middle East.

By contrast, the military presence and actions of the United States are widely contested, and even regarded as having a negative impact in most cases. The wars that the United States has launched, unilaterally and multilaterally, in the region have severely undermined the regional order and worsened the security situation. Many even believe that the United States is making use of its increasingly tarnished legitimacy to station forces in the region in pursuit of its own national agenda, the containment of Iran for example, rather than to provide security.

U.S. criticism of China is also very poorly founded. The logic behind the criticism is actually very simple. China is not willing to get involved in military actions organized under a U.S. framework, but is willing to do so within a U.N. framework. This criticism simply reflects U.S. frustration at not being able to integrate China into its own structures.

It can be predicted with some confidence that in the future, as China's defense capabilities grow, she will be more able, and more willing, to contribute to global security efforts in the region. But the question is whether the United States will welcome China playing a bigger role within the framework of the U.N. and other international organizations.

The author is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://china.org.cn/opinion/jinliangxiang.htm

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