China’s Energy Strategy for Africa, A Case Study on Sudan

• Main Authors: Wan Ting Huang, 黃琬婷
• Other Authors: 翁明賢
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/33312026714872533761

碩士 === 淡江大學 === 國際事務與戰略研究所碩士班 === 96 === Petroleum is the engine of China’s economic development through its major push for industrialization. In 1993, China became a net oil importer for the very first time and the second largest oil consumer and the third oil importer by 2003. The sharp increase of oil consumption pressured China to expand its oil policy to the outside world; energy security, therefore, plays a key role in China’s foreign strategy. With the oil price repeatedly breaking new record, the threats of terrorism and the influences of never-ceasing regional conflicts, China’s economy is encountering a huge challenge at the beginning of 21st century. To insure the stability of oil import, China is compelled to properly utilize its national power and diplomatic tactics. China’s most recent oil development strategy focused on Africa since the Middle East has always been in turmoil. As the leader of the Third World, China cooperates with African countries through the framework of “South-South Cooperation” and the construction of the “Forum on China-Africa Cooperation”. Through unconditional loans and non-interference commitment, China has replaced the U.S. and become the most powerful actor on African issues. The economic ties between China and African countries grow stronger through the African oil development, and the achievement of China’s “going-out strategy” is also prominent, especially in Sudan. Now Africa is already a stable oil import resource for China, and China as a result shares more responsibility on African agenda thanks to its great influence on this continent. International critics even accuse China of being a new colonist in Africa, which has put a shadow on China’s foreign relations on the international stage.