China's Thirst for African Oil

China's amazing economic growth over the last three decades has dramatically increased thecountry's demand for natural resources, particularly oil. China became a net importer of oil in1993. It now ranks as the second largest consumer of oil in the world behind the United States.China's national oil companies are searching the globe for the energy reserves to meet thisgrowing demand. However, they must compete with the giant western oil firms for access tothose reserves. Failures like the bid for Unocal encourage Chinese firms to do business incountries where they can compete on level terms with their western counterparts. African pariahstates and the nations around the Gulf of Guinea provide such opportunities. Two of the largestAfrican suppliers of oil for China are Angola and Sudan. Beijing provides numerous benefits tothe governments of these countries in order to support its company's bids for energy contracts.In addition, China sells arms to Khartoum, provides loans worth billions of dollars to Luanda,and subsidizes the construction of massive infrastructure projects in both countries. Meanwhile,it ignores the egregious human rights violations in the Sudan. It showers Angola with moneywhile turning a blind eye to the fact that Luanda has already made billions of dollars disappearwithout a trace. Western nations, the United States in particular, criticize Beijing's willingnessto do business under these circumstances. However, western oil firms have, and still do, operatein countries that act in similar ways. In comparison, China's behavior does not stand out. In theend, it is in China's interest to modify its policies concerning the conduct of business relationswith African nations.