China bolsters ties with UAE, a traditional US ally in Middle East

Beijing seeks to expand its footprint in the region as American clout wanes

20210602 Wang Yi China & Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan UAE

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan during their meeting in Abu Dhabi in late March.  © Reuters

TSUKASA HADANO and HIDEMITSU KIBE, Nikkei staff writers

BEIJING/DUBAI -- China is on a diplomatic offensive in the Middle East as the U.S. presence diminishes, and has been expanding ties with the United Arab Emirates -- one of Washington's traditional allies in the region.

Beijing has agreed to supply a COVID-19 vaccine developed in China as well as Chinese technology for fifth-generation (5G) wireless technology to the Gulf state, which is made up of seven emirates in eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula.

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