China — Opinion — World

Xi's Saudi Arabia Trip Signals Multipolarity In The Middle East

Shifting sands of geopolitics.

December 8, 2022 . 7:26 AM

3 min read

This photo taken on Dec. 7, 2022 shows jets releasing smoke in the colors of the Chinese national flag in the sky over Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Riyadh Wednesday afternoon to attend the first China-Arab States Summit and the China-Gulf Cooperation Council summit, and pay a state visit to Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Xie Huanchi/Xinhua via Getty Images)

Responding to the Chinese President's visit to Saudi Arabia, the National Security Council spokesman, John Kirby, said that Riyadh remained a key ally and issued a warning on China. He said that America is "not asking nations to choose between the U.S. and China." Still, he pointed to Beijing's "manner" as "not conducive to preserving the international rules-based order." That the White House felt necessary to issue such a warning, points to the shifting geopolitical landscape.