Jeopolitik Güç Mücadelesi: Çin’in Doğu Akdeniz’deki Varlığı

Bu makale Çin’in Doğu Akdeniz bölgesindeki varlığını inceleyerek, Çin dış politikasında yaşanan değişime paralel olarak artan bu etkinin Çin-ABD mücadelesine etkilerini sorgulamaktadır. Çin, dış politikasında her ne kadar farklı bölgeleri önceliklendirmiş olsa da son on yıldır artan şekilde Doğu Akdeniz bölgesinde de varlık göstermektedir. Enerji, ulaşım, teknoloji ve telekomünikasyon alanlarına yaptığı yatırımlardan başlayarak, bölgesel işbirliğine yönelik sektörel forumlar ve askeri tatbikatlar aracılığıyla da Çin bölgede nüfuzunu artırmaya çalışmaktadır. 20 ve 21. yüzyıllarda büyük güçlerin çekişme sahnelerinden birini oluşturan Doğu Akdeniz’de Çin’in izlediği politikalar, ABD’nin bölge ülkeleriyle kurduğu ilişkilere alternatifler sunmaktadır. Ayrıca, Çin-ABD arasında farklı bölgelerde devam eden jeopolitik güç mücadelesine yeni bir boyut daha eklemektedir. Bu makale, Çin’in Doğu Akdeniz bölgesinde izlediği stratejiler ile bölgenin “Kuşak ve Yol Girişimi” açısından önemini Nicholas Spykman’ın Kenar Kuşak (Rimland) teorisi çerçevesinde açıklamayı amaçlamaktadır.

Jeopolitical Power Rivalry: China’s Presence in the Eastern Mediterranean

This article examines China’s presence in the Easter Mediterranean, and questions the impacts of China’s rising influence –in parallel with changes in its foreign policy– over the Sino-US rivalry. Even though China has prioritized different regions in its foreign policy, it has been increasing its presence in the Eastern Mediterranean. Starting from its investments in different sectors including energy, transportation, technology and telecommunication, China has been trying to increase its influence through sectoral cooperation forums in the region and military exercises. China’s policy towards the Eastern Mediterranean, which has been one of the scenes for the great power rivalry in the 20th and 21st centuries, has provided alternatives for the US’ relationship with the regional countries. Moreover, it has added a new layer to the ongoing Sino-US geopolitical power rivalry in different regions. This article aims to explain the China’s strategies in the region and the importance of the region for the One Belt, One Road initiative by using Nicholas Spykman’s Rimland theory.

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