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.