The Triangle of Sino-American Energy Diplomacy: A Symposium

Asia Society: Texas presents a seminar in which we will seek to understand how China's “resource diplomacy”—its overseas pursuit of energy and resources—affects the international system and U.S.—China relations.

As China moves aggressively to establish bilateral trade relations with resource-rich states, it finds itself not in a tête-à-tête with its partners but a ménage a trois. There’s always a third party in the room: the United States.

The U.S. has interests in almost every country where China seeks resources. In some cases – Iran, for example, or Venezuela – the relationship is adversarial. In others – Australia, Saudi Arabia – friendly. In yet others – Russia, Nigeria – neutral. Regardless of which, Sino-American competition for resources is inevitably a triangular affair.

The dynamics of these three-sided relationships and their impact on long-term U.S.-China interests will be the topic of an Asia Society symposium on resource diplomacy featuring policy experts from both Asia and the United States.

Participants include:

• Professor David Zweig, Director of the Center on Environment, Energy and Resource Policy, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
• Professor Xu Xiaojie, Chair of the World Energy Research Program, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
• Professor Nicholas Thomas, Associate Professor, Department of Asian and International Studies, City University of Hong Kong
• Ms. Susana Moeira, PhD candidate, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies

The two-hour symposium will also be presented at Asia Society New York on January 18, 2013.