Weekend Long Read: China’s Late Preeminent Mideast Scholar Hoped For ‘Dividends of Peace’

Yin Gang, a renowned researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ Institute of West Asian and African Studies, passed away from a heart attack at the age of 73 on June 9 [para. 1]. Yin's family remembered his numerous media interviews over the decades, during which he discussed critical turning points in Middle Eastern and North African history, sharing his candid insights and opinions with the public [para. 2].

Yin’s expertise extended to the printed page as well. He served as the principal editor of influential books like “Saddam Hussein: Destined to Shock the World” and “The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Problems and Solutions.” He also co-authored “A History of Middle East Peace Talks: 1913-1995” and translated “Borodin: Stalin’s Man in China” [para. 3].

During an exclusive interview in April, Yin emphasized the importance of understanding the Middle East’s complex history to grasp its current situation, advising to always “look at the big picture” [para. 4][para. 5]. Yin highlighted two key events: the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty the same year, marking these as pivotal turning points in Middle Eastern politics [para. 7].

The Iranian Revolution established a unique theocratic Islamic regime, making opposition to the U.S. and Israel a national policy, a stance which contributed to the region's ongoing conflicts. This led to the formation of armed groups like Hezbollah, and Shiite militias in northern Iraq, aligning themselves with Iran [para. 8][para. 9]. The end of the Iran-Iraq war in 1988 saw Iran shifting to a pragmatic approach, further interfering in Arab countries by supporting armed opposition groups, aggravating regional tensions [para. 11][para. 12].

Yin discussed the impact of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, noting that dismantling Saddam Hussein's regime reintroduced 300,000 Iraqi Shiite activists exiled in Iran, leading to post-war Iraq being significantly influenced by Iran [para. 13]. Yin criticized Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's decision to dissolve the Baath Party, which led to fierce resistance and contributed to the rise of extremist groups like the Islamic State [para. 15][para. 16].

Yin also warned of the potential for nuclear proliferation in the Middle East, noting that several countries in the region have nuclear power plants, which could pave the path for nuclear weapons development [para. 18].

Yin's scholarly contributions began in the early 1980s. By the 1990s, he extensively researched Middle East-North Africa policies, gaining recognition in academic and public spheres. He formed connections with local scholars through his travels [para. 22][para. 23]. During his time at Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1995, Yin witnessed firsthand a devastating bus bombing and the subsequent reactions of the Israeli public, providing him with profound insights [para. 24][para. 28].

Discussing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Yin believed the Jews’ 1948 Arab-Israeli War was a war for survival, but for Palestinian Arabs, it was one of betrayal [para. 37]. He posited that the failure of the 2000 Camp David negotiations was due to internal and external opposition within the Palestinian community and broader Arab world [para. 41].

Reflecting on China-Israel relations, Yin mapped out the historical trajectory from firm support for Arab nations to the official establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992 [para. 50]. However, constraints from Israel's relations with the U.S. and Arab countries have consistently challenged Sino-Israeli relations' development [para. 54].

Yin's relative, Wang Dingding, summarized Yin’s character in a eulogy, highlighting his “straightforward” nature, “stalwart” academic presence, and dedication to reflecting on history [para. 60].