Geo-strategy of Chinese Petroleum security

Geo-strategy of Chinese Petroleum security

January 9, 2010/Dong Xiucheng

With the important issue of petroleum security has become the national security system, States around the oil and gas resources of intense competition makes oil changing geo-political landscape of the world, starts to look like a new trend of multiple. Oil and gas core is to ensure the safety of the State oil and gas supply without interruption, ensure the healthy operation of the economy and society. From a realistic analysis of the situation, China Petroleum safety situation is not optimistic.

Oil and gas of China's economic lifeline, but domestic production cannot meet consumer demand, dependence on foreign oil and gas resources will continue to increase. Since reform and opening up, China's national economy an average annual growth rate of close to 10%, leading to rapid growth in energy demand, but for a long time, and energy production cannot meet the needs of economic construction problems have become increasingly prominent. As China's national economy will continue in the future at a higher rate, demand for oil and gas will continue to grow, external dependence will continue to increase.

Future world oil and gas supply and demand patterns change, international competition will be even more acute. Judging from the distribution of resources, the Middle East-North Africa, Central Asia-Russia and the three regions of North America a large proportion of remaining recoverable reserves and prospects of a wide range of proven recoverable oil and gas resources. After 2010, the OPEC share of world oil production will increase to more than 50%, oil supply will be more dependent on the Middle East. International competition over oil and gas resources will be concentrated mainly in the Middle East-North Africa, Central Asia-Russia and China's South China Sea area. In China currently has has in Saudi, and Iran, and Oman, and Yemen, and Russia, and Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan, and Sudan, and Angola, and Chad, and Thailand, and Nigeria, and Canada, and Venezuela, and Peru, national carried out has oil and gas cooperation project, including oil and gas purchase, and products into, and joint venture, and technology service, mode, covers oil and gas exploration development, and ground construction, and long lost pipeline, and oil refining, and oil chemical and oil sales, business area. Overall, cooperation with China's main source of oil and gas from multiple geopolitical risk threats, less security.

Is China's heavy reliance on the main foreign sources of oil and gas in the Middle East, but interwoven with ethnic conflicts, religious conflicts, political conflicts in the region, is the world's most troubled areas, coupled with the United States of "oil" in overseas oil and gas source multiple geopolitical risk in the region. West in the Middle East to promote the "greater Middle East initiative" impact to existing international situation, leading to rising anti-American sentiment in the Middle East; Iran nuclear stalemate, seriously affect China and Iran's oil and gas cooperation between.

Africa has become China's second largest source of oil and gas imports, from Angola, the Sudan, the Congo (Brazzaville) as a greater proportion of imported crude oil. Africa region various tribal disputes, ethnic, religious and regional conflicts, State of war, the military Government of political interference and corruption within the geopolitical risk.

In addition, United States, other national is committed to African oil development strategy, for Sudan Darfur of war, Western national for sanctions, its fundamental intention is for in China in Sudan of can continued oil supply, opportunity on in China in African of oil and gas mining for interference and hinder; Somalia area of war growing, United States to take this opportunities, into Somalia, will entire African governs in its military armed of control range within, on other national formation potential deterrence.

Central Asia is located in the strategic hub, a variety of ethnic, religious and cultural "combination". In Central Asia, religious extremism and violent unrest caused by the direct threat of terrorism in Central Asia's oil and gas development in China. United States take Afghanistan terror machine garrison Afghanistan and other countries, and moved south in Europe's garrison, adjustment of Turkey and other countries of the garrison, as an important military strategy to deployment in Central Asia. From NATO's eastward expansion to the color revolutions, and Badger pipeline construction, United States against Russia formed the attacking line of political oppression, economic competition, increased competition in the oil and gas in the region, also threaten China's oil and gas interests in the region.

Latin America is China's oil and gas "going out" one of the three objectives of the strategy of the strategic area. Political instability and ever-changing for Latin America and the national tide of reform of the energy industry, major geopolitical risks to future country in Latin America is the energy of industrial nationalisation campaign asset classification uncertainty and turn Government policy uncertainty brought about by the resources of State power.