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China's Oil Strategy: “Going Out” to Iran
Author(s) -
Chen WenSheng
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
asian politics and policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.193
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 1943-0787
pISSN - 1943-0779
DOI - 10.1111/j.1943-0787.2009.01166.x
Subject(s) - china , beijing , competition (biology) , power (physics) , middle east , great power , economy , international trade , development economics , political science , business , economics , law , ecology , physics , quantum mechanics , biology
China's rapid development has drawn worldwide attention and has been referred to as a “peaceful rise” in recent years. The country's booming economy feeds Beijing's insatiable thirst for sufficient, stable, and secure energy sources. This article argues that Iran's plentiful oil reserves and its capacity to produce and export vast quantities of oil make Tehran a natural partner as China pursues its goal of rising to global‐power status. Furthermore, Iran's location on the “Energy Silk Road” to China is potentially of great significance for Beijing as it seeks to break out of the “Malacca predicament.” This article suggests that China sees an important role for Iran in securing its oil supply and pursuing a “westward oil strategy.” The article also demonstrates that China's energy ties with Iran are constrained and conditioned by Sino‐U.S. cooperation and competition and by the Middle Eastern power structure.