News Analysis As the world’s largest energy importer, the Middle East engages with China through infrastructure investment and trade, as well as nuclear development, in exchange for oil and international political support. Over the past decade the United States has shifted its focus away from the Middle East, concentrating more on China. Ironically, this has left the region open for China to increase its trade, investment, and influence. China has signed partnership agreements with 16 Middle Eastern countries. According to the Beijing’s 2016 “Arab Policy Paper,” China’s engagement with the Middle East follows the “1+2+3” cooperation scheme, where “1” is energy, “2” is trade and investment, as well as infrastructure construction, and “3” is nuclear energy and satellites. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) takes a cautious approach to the security and political challenges of the Middle East, steadily increasing its investment and trade through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI, also known as …