The inaugural issue of the Pacific Report, presented by the Institute of International Affairs(IIA) starting from 2023, has been published. The Pacific Report, sponsored by the Amore-Pacific Foundation, aims to deepen strategic understanding of international issues and propose policy alternatives that reflect the reality of the Korean Peninsula. At the same time, the report seeks to present Korea's vision and role as a middle power that matches its status in the international community in the 21st century. In the first issue of the Pacific Report, Nam-sik In, the Director-General of the Department of African and Middle Eastern Studies at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, contributed an article on the geopolitical significance of the restoration of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran amid the U.S.-China competition. As one of the top Middle East experts in Korea, he provides excellent insights into the long-standing conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia and the competitive dynamics between the United States and China in the Middle East issues. It will be a valuable reference for GSIS students interested in US-China competition and Middle Eastern issues.