China seen basing troops in Mideast this decade to secure oil access

World Tribune ^ | 1/14/2010 | World Tribune

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

China is expected to deploy military forces and bases in the Middle East in the coming decade as part of an effort to protect its access to valuable resources like oil, according to British specialist on the Middle East Patrick Seale. S Seale told participants in a conference in Jordan last month that Chinese trade with Arab states amounted to $132 billion in 2008 and that its influence in the region was growing. China remains heavily reliant on oil shipments from the Middle East, including Iran and Saudi Arabia and is developing a strategy known as the “string of pearls” that is designed to protect – through both military, diplomatic and economic measures – sea lanes from the oil-rich region to China’s coast, where most development has taken place.

[Irenic]

hmmmm...
We need to stop screwing around and DRILL, build nuke plants yada.

[SunkenCiv]

thanks sonofstrangelove.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2428854/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2428856/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2428882/posts

[Roccus]

Gotta do something with all those un-mated males China is stockpiling.

[Niuhuru]

Chances are China has been dying for a real reason to test their troops and the Middle East is providing the perfect reason for them to get involved. If there’s a terrorist attack on China that kills innocent people, then I do not doubt that China will happily deploy troops to the host country that supported the terrorists, most likely Saudi Arabia. The Saudis have location, oil, and the history of supporting terrorism. A perfect excuse all around.