Geo-Strategic Trend - 223. page

Xinhua recently republished an article discussing how the current round of political volatility in the Middle East has impacted China’s commercial interests in that region. The article made a few key points: 1) Normal trade activities have been heavily disrupted in the areas of the import and export of goods, including the export of labor, engineering and technology, and intellectual services; 2) China’s energy supply is clearly endangered, because 50% of the oil consumed in China is sourced from the Middle East; 3) Compared to the U.S., Europe, and Russia, China does not have “a card in hand to play” under the current circumstance to effectively influence the situation in the Middle East. The article called for establishing a strategic precautionary system.

Source: Xinhua, February 28, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2011-02/28/c_13753746.htm

An article published on Jiefang Daily, the official newspaper of Shanghai’s Communist Party committee, blames the turmoil in North Africa on the United States for shifting its domestic crisis to other countries. Many other state media republished it on their websites. The article claims, ”The recent continuous turmoil in North Africa and the Middle East may have profound world economic and social causes. It not only results from the global financial crisis, but is also the result of the decline of the U.S.’s ability to lead in world affairs. In the end, it is due to the U.S. shifting its domestic crisis to other countries through two waves of quantitative easing of its currency.” The article concludes that, as long as the internal problems arising from the financial crisis are not completely resolved, such turmoil will continue. It warns, “What’s even more worrisome is that some big power will use ulterior political and economic motives to implement irresponsible policies while the Arab countries in Africa are still not stable, making the situation even more complicated.”

Sources: Jiefang Daily, February 28, 2011
http://newspaper.jfdaily.com/jfrb/html/2011-02/25/content_518795.htm

On February 25, 2011, People’s Daily published an article criticizing the U.S. government for “abandoning Mubarak unsympathetically at the critical moment,” which has “not only disappointed other US Middle East allies, but also let them further understand the pragmatic nature of the U.S. Middle East foreign policy.” By listing current and historic examples of U.S. foreign policy decisions in Egypt, Iran and Libya, the article concludes that the purpose for the U.S. to promote democracy in the Middle East is to control its strategic benefits in the Middle East out of self interest. 

Source: People’s Daily, February 25, 2011
http://world.people.com.cn/GB/14001278.html

China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), Asia’s largest refiner, completed its acquisition of Occidental Petroleum Corp.’s Argentine oil and gas unit for $2.45 billion. The acquisition agreement was signed on December 10, 2010. This purchase gives Sinopec an interest in 23 production and exploration concessions in Santa Cruz, Mendoza, and Chubut provinces. According to Sinopec Groups, in 2010, petroleum production had reached 15 million barrels with natural gas sales hitting 14 billion cubic feet.

Source: Xinhua, February 23, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-02/23/c_121114769.htm

On February 17, 2011, People’s Daily reported Finance Ministry Spokesperson Yao Jian’s comments on Finance Minister Chen Deming’s visit to three African countries (Morogo, Equatorial Guinea, and Ghana) from February 13-17. Yao said the visit carried special meaning because it took place against the backdrop of the 55th anniversary of China-Africa cooperation and the full-scale implementation of the eight new strategies put forth by the fourth minister’s conference of the China-Africa cooperation forum. The China-Africa cooperation forum was established in 2000. Over the last decade, the scale of cooperation has steadily increased. The amount of bilateral trade has increased from US$10 billion in 2000 to US$126.9 billion. Investments cover the areas of mining, manufacturing, agriculture, and so on. Since July 1, 2010, China has reduced its customs duty by 60 percent for 26 African countries. China also encourages and supports Chinese enterprises to increase investment in Africa, and expand in the areas of agriculture, manufacturing, finance, commerce, and environmental protection.

Source: People’s Daily, February, 17, 2011
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/13942743.html

"The Chinese Communist Party is working directly with local organizations and businesses in Taiwan, looking for agents, instead of dealing with the Nationalist Party leaders (the Kuomintang)," said Wu Zhaoxie (Joseph Wu), a research fellow at National Chengchi University’s Institute of International Relations. “Further, there are more political parties [in Taiwan now] … about 140 of them. Most of them are one person or three to five-person parties, funded by Taiwan businesses or Mainland civic groups or organizations. Actually the Chinese Communist Party is behind them.” Wu made this statement on February 15, 2011, during an interview with Epoch Times after the Taiwan Cross-strait Business Relations Forum.  

As the former head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Washington, D.C.,Wu was the chief representative of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the United States. 

Source: Epoch Times, February 15, 2011
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/11/2/15/n3171118.htm