Today, Chinese President Hu Jintao meets with US President George W. Bush. Trade, Iraq, North Korea and the Iranian nuclear issue will likely dominant their discussions, but perhaps the most important topic they will broach concerns the matter of petroleum.

China’s insatiable need for energy resources is genuinely recognized by most (not including the sheep-like leftist easily brainwashed electorate) as a principle reason for the rise in oil prices (leftists blame George Bush, as they do for all their woes, many of which are self inflicted). China, recognizing this growing need has gone to great lengths to secure its future energy needs and has signed agreements with Russia, Iran, Venezuela and others to ensure a steady supply of oil.

Because of this oil need, China has been reluctant to confront nations like Iran over their nuclear weapons program, fearing any such confrontation will impede the flow of oil to the Middle Kingdom. US officials have decried China’s energy policy as mercantilistic in nature. China’s foreign policy is regularly regarded as benign and introverted, as such nations like Iran and Venezuela are more than happy to enter into exclusive contracts with that country, recognizing that China will pose no threat to their plans. Thus when radical Islam embarks on its plan for global domination, China will be last on the target list rather than first, like the US and Europe.

US planners have proposed initiatives to limit China’s mercantilistic expansion in Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. China, however, is not one to be bullied and is unlikely to accept any conditions which it views as a threat to its ongoing economic expansion. So what is America to do, how will America compete for resources if China locks up those resources through exclusive trading agreements with tyrants and radical mullahs?

The solution is quite simple, while we can urge China not to cavort with tyrants simply to obtain a steady supply of energy resources, the US, must learn to cast off the shackles of dependence upon pariah states. To compete, America must exploit its scientific and technological prowess to end its dependence upon foreign oil and thus limit its susceptibility to the whims of tyrants and tin pan dictators. The US must embrace energy alternatives and must abandon a 19th century Standard Oil-esque mentality. Oil simply is not the only available option. With the government’s unique ability to provide a fertile field for the free market to innovate the US could again lead the way in energy innovation.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/19/world/asia/19china.html?hp&ex=1145505600&en=29fb02287d721eda&ei=5094&partner=homepage