China SignPost™ (洞察中国) #28: China’s Economic & Strategic Interests in CENTCOM’s Area of Responsibility: Assessment and policy recommendations
Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “China’s Economic & Strategic Interests in CENTCOM’s Area of Responsibility: Assessment and Policy Recommendations,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 28 (9 March 2011).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
China’s recent operation to evacuate its citizens in Libya saw PLA ships and aircraft pass through the U.S. Central Command’s (CENTCOM) area of responsibility (AOR), suggesting that contact between the U.S. and Chinese militaries in the Middle East is likely to increase. To help policymakers, we give a brief rundown of China’s strategic and economic interests in countries within the CENTCOM AOR. Energy is a key interest, with countries in the AOR accounting for more than 2.2 million bpd of oil supply to China in 2010 (~45% of China’s total oil imports). … … …
