CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VIII (2) ContEurVIII2 | Page 62

RESOURCE COMPETITION IN THE MIDDLE EAST
ARAM ABAJYAN
THE ROLE OF THEGULF REGION’S ENERGY SUPPLIERS
IN CHINA’S ENERGY SECURITY POLICYAT THE TURN OF
THE 21ST CENTURY
Received October 9, 2019, accepted November 12, 2019
Abstract: The main purpose of this article is to analyze China’s energy
security calculations starting from the end of the 20 th century. The
growing demand for oil paved the way for China to expand energy ties
especially with the Gulf region’s energy producers. Beijing’s economic
modernization initiative together with its market-oriented economic plans
caused significant increases in its energy demands. The Gulf attracted
China more than any other region due to its huge energy resources.
Consequently, while continuing to deepen its cooperative ties with the
Gulf States, China was even ready for direct competition with the United
States for influence there. Chinese energy companies were pursuing deals
in many regions, but the Gulf region’s huge oil potential remained
crucially important for Beijing. The region gradually gained priority
status in China’s strategic calculations. Chinese economic and energy
relations started to flourish in the Gulf, especially with their Saudi
partners. Thus, the Sino-Saudi ‘strategic partnership’ pushed Beijing
forward for new opportunities. Strategically significant development in
Sino-Saudi trade and investment ties helped Chinese strengthen efforts to
reemerge in the Kingdom’s eyes as a trustworthy and desirable long-term
customer for importing Saudi oil. China’s oil diplomacy along with its
huge demands for imported-oil had the potential to strengthen its energy
ties with oil-producers, even thought his policy complicated its relations
with other global oil-importing states.
In this article, the author tries to present China’s soft penetration into the
Gulf region that made those states significant energy suppliers. How the
Gulf region became a top priority within Beijing’s energy security
calculations will be demonstrated. Indeed, the attempts of Sino-Saudi
rapprochement together with China-United States regional relations are
also explored.
Keywords: China, energy security, Middle East, Gulf, United States, oil
diplomacy
Introduction
The Middle Eastern countries sometimes are viewed as ‘rich states’
in regard to their natural resources. However, they are still not very
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