I think we’re heading nicely in the direction you describe (despite the efforts of the regime to prevent it).
Of course the Chinese are picking up any slack oil availability.
It may be fun to watch the Chicom / Arab dynamic down the road.
Right you are. The Chinese have a very elitist attitude and consider everyone there inferior, I don't think the Arab world will accept that and we could see a little saber rattling (from both). And when you through religion into the mix, we could see a Chinese attempted take over in the middle east (a la Nexen in the best case, invasion in the worst).