by Lim Tai Wei (National University of Singapore, Singapore)

This book looks at the emergence of China as a major importer and consumer of energy as well as examines contemporary issues within the Chinese oil industry. As China benefits from globalization, what is the impact on China's relations with countries in its neighbouring region when it seeks more oil importation from overseas sources? China's industrial growth in the Pan Pearl River Delta Region is outstripping its oil supply and China is turning to the ASEAN countries connected to its Pearl River tributaries to form a Pan region that acts both as a conduit for oil supply from other sources as well as the supply source itself.

Geopolitics in the region represents one of the main obstacles standing in China's way for a regional agreement on maritime resources. Would the pressure on China for more energy translate into tension and conflicts? How will Japan view or compete with China's initiatives in ASEAN given that Japan is still the region's largest investor.

After China's landmark energy crisis in 2004, how will China be able to strike a balance between economic growth and energy consumption? With the growing importance of post-industrial debate and environmentalism, what are the implications of post-industrialism for China? For future energy use, how will China utilize the options of alternative energy, energy conservation and reinvigoration of old energy resources to meet its future oil needs?

• Introduction — China Benefits from Globalization
• The Emergence of the Chinese Oil Industry in Northeast Asia — Transition from Japan (1978 Daqing Crude Trade) to Russian Oil Relations (Sino-Russian Oil Communiqués 2002/2003)
• The Emergence of the Chinese Oil Industry in Southeast Asia: China-ASEAN Sub-Regionalism — Pan Pearl River Delta (PPRD) Regionalism and Cooperation in Oil Energy
• The Emergence of the Chinese Oil Industry and Potential Flashpoints?
• Seeking Energy Security: Cooperation and Competition between China, Japan and India
• Year 2004: China's Landmark Energy Crisis
• The New Energy Superpower's Internal Debates: Development or Environmentalism