Hot From The Conspiracy Desk
February 5th, 2007
Submitted By: Chris Arena
Poking around the China Daily website, an English version of China’s biggest news paper publication, one article in particular jumped off the screen: “West Has Nothing to Fear From Talks,” which obviously means that something is to be feared.
The article describes how Russia, India, and China will be holding a conference on February 14, that’s right ladies Valentines Day, to discuss international issues and among other things, oil. Interesting. I continued to scroll the China Daily home page until I came across an article titled “Strategic Oil Reserve Begins Operation in China.” How convenient that on the same day that China begins strategically storing oil to the tune of 150 million barrels, China announces the scheduling of international meetings to discuss oil imports. A quick Google search later and I come upon an article from the India Daily titled “Putin Leads BRIC Alliance (Brazil, Russia, India, China) and Plays Oil Trump Card.” The article was published in January of 2005, but highlights the importance of international politics, oil, energy and the fight over it.
The Conspiracy: Is China creating its own alliance of oil producing countries to feed its growth, which will eventually, by market forces, be pushed against the United States oil alliances with the Middle East (if you can call them that)? Do I see a new high stakes East vs. West type conflict on the horizon over oil instead of nuclear weapons? Someone please prove me wrong. In a world where oil and energy is king, are the international super powers picking sides? Is China not doing what the United States has done for the past two decades in the Middle East? Your thoughts?
Entry Filed under: Pre-Departure, Beijing, China, Misc.
2 Comments Add your own
1. Kerry Huang | February 5th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
“Is China creating its own alliance of oil producing countries to feed its growth, which will eventually, by market forces, be pushed against the United States oil alliances with the Middle East (if you can call them that)?”
I say, “yes”! China would be poor planners if they did nothing to plan for future oil consumption. They’re expected to consume more oil as more Chinese drive cars and as the economy grows. For now the US receives the better refined oil while China receives more crude oil because the US has more purchasing power than China. Eventually, as China continues rapid growth, there will be a fight over oil.
The US will need to ween ourselves off of oil and look to alternative fuels is we want to avoid a fight over oil with China. There are already problems with oil in China. A former roommate (who we may see if the class goes to Wal-mart in Shenzen) told me that a few of his friends’ family businesses can not always manufacture due to oil shortages.
I wonder how strong the BRIC alliance will be since each is an emerging economy and each will consume much more oil in the future. Russia has oil reserves but it is unlikely that the country will be very willing to share, considering past actions (cutting off Belarus and being unreliable). It may be likely that if relations are not managed delicately it may splinter.
2. Chris Carr | February 7th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
Good post.
This indeed, will be an interesting issue to watch and monitor to see how it develops in the future. Oil, and our consumption of it, sure does seem to complicate things.
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