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    January 14, 2012

China's Wen Visits Middle East Amid Energy Concerns

   Philip Walter Wellman | Dubai
   China's Premier Wen Jiabao (file photo)
   Photo: Reuters
   China's Premier Wen Jiabao (file photo)

   Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is due to arrive in Qatar Saturday amid
   fears that tighter international sanctions on Iran's oil industry may
   affect China's energy imports.
   Full details of Premier Wen's six-day visit to the Middle East, which
   will also take him to the oil exporting nations of the United Arab
   Emirates and Saudi Arabia, are still unknown, but securing energy
   supplies to meet growing Chinese demand is expected to top the agenda.
   China's booming economy has become dependent on foreign oil, with 11
   percent of imports coming from Iran.
   The United States on Wednesday called on China - the largest buyer of
   Iranian crude - to reduce its purchases as part of a bid to force Iran
   to abandon its nuclear program. The West says Iran's nuclear program is
   aimed at building weapons, but Iran says it is for peaceful purposes.
   Chinese officials have criticized the 'unilateral' efforts of the
   United States to impose further sanctions on Iran. However, most
   analysts, like Christian Koch from the Gulf Research Center, say if
   China were to cooperate with the U.S. in the future, it would partly
   depend on assurances from Gulf countries that they would accommodate
   the extra oil demand that would ensue.
   Increasingly weary of Iran's nuclear aspirations, Saudi Arabia recently
   announced that it has the capacity to meet global needs if new
   sanctions stop Iranian oil from flowing.
   Koch says Saudi Arabia could also accommodate China.
   "The Saudis will certainly prove themselves amendable to discussing
   possibly increased levels of exports to China, so that's what the
   premier is going to be looking for. "
   China has a history of opposing outside intervention in foreign
   countries, but it eventually supported last year's opposition movement
   in Libya. According to Shaun Breslin, professor of politics and
   international studies at Warwick University, such support could mean
   Chinese authorities take similar stances on matters of foreign policy
   in the future.
   "They want to be seen as a responsible power and they're aware that if
   they're seen as being in some way irresponsible, that this can have
   negative impacts on other economic goals."
   In addition to pressure from the U.S., Wen's visit to the Gulf also
   follows recent threats by Iran to close the Straight of Hormuz in
   response to more sanctions.
   Almost a fifth of all oil traded worldwide passes through the strategic
   waterway, including about a third of Chinese oil imports.
   China is expected to sign a joint venture deal in the coming days to
   develop a refinery on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Coast, allowing tankers to
   bypass the Straight of Hormuz.
   Chinese officials say Wen will not visit Iran during his Middle East
   trip.

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