Chinese-Middle East foreign policy :: essays research papers

Karl SchroederPolicy Update chinaware-Persian GulfChinas biggest issue in the midsection East is securing the vegetable oil and accelerator pedal that they will need with their continued economic growth. China has attempted to cultivate domestic oil production, but their demand for oil has continued to increase exponentially and it is pass along that China will continue to need more and more affectionateness Eastern oil. China has made a number of big moves to help secure oil in the future. In September of 2004 China sign(a) an transcription with Kazakhstan to establish an oil pipeline cost 3.5 billion dollars. Then in November of 2004 China signed a mega-gas deal with Iran that is worth one hundred billion dollars, which could increase by up to another 100 billion. This deal entails the annual export of 10 million tons of Iranian liquefied innate gas for a 25 year period. The deal in any case gives Chinas state oil company participation in projects such as exploration, d rilling and pipeline services. The export of liquefied natural gas requires special cargo ships and Iran is currently adding to its small fleet with continued expansion in the future. Many thought that Chinas pipeline deal with Kazakhstan would user in a new era of Chinese foreign policy and help give China a big economic push, it is clear that this agreement was only the beginning for Chinas economic expansion in the world. It is difficult to comprehend or predict the economic, political and strategic importance of this deal. It is clear that this deal was a major blow to Bushs economic sanctions on Iran. Chinas cooperation with Iran has extended to political issues as well. After the natural gas deal China said that they would be unwilling to refer the issue of Irans nuclear program to the Security Council. This cooperation has been beneficial for both states, China was able to secure oil and gas for the future, Iran gets political support of a major power. China also began coope rating with Saudi Arabia in the 1990s in 1999 they signed a strategic oil cooperation agreement opening both states to future economic cooperation.Oil is Chinas greatest interest in the Middle East, the Middle East benefits from economically by providing China with oil, but many of the Middle Eastern states also want to purchase arms from China. China has locomote more and more into arms sales as they have attempted to modernize their military and utilize their military build up.