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China calls for calm after attacks on Saudi oil production
Beijing has called for restraint following the US’ allegations that Tehran is behind the drone attacks that knocked out 5.7mn bpd of Saudi oil production
COMMENTARY
WHAT:
The Chinese government wants to avoid an escalation in regional tensions.
WHY:
Should the US attack Iran, Tehran will likely close the Strait of Hormuz.
WHAT NEXT:
A military build-up in the region designed to prevent a repeat of such attacks could trigger a war.
ASIA’S oil importers have been left nervously watching the US beat the war drum in response to attacks over the weekend that knocked out 5.7mn barrels per day (bpd) of Saudi Arabian crude oil production.
They have good reason to be concerned. The US has accused Iran of orchestrating the attack on oil processing facilities at Abqaiq and Khurais, which Tehran denies, and has suggested it is willing to retaliate in kind. While both Saudi Arabia and Iran appear to want to resolve the situation without conflict, an unpredictable US could end up starting a new war in the Middle East.
This is a terrifying prospect for Asia’s major oil importers – China, India, Japan and South Korea – who have come to rely on the volatile region to meet rising energy demand. China is the world’s largest oil importer, shipping in around 9.5mn bpd or around 70% of its oil needs and about 44% of that figure comes from nine Middle Eastern suppliers.
It should come as no-surprise then that Bei- jing is calling for calm.
Chinese restraint
China called on the US to “exercise restraint” on
September 16, following Washington’s accusa- tions that Iran was behind the drone attack on oil processing facilities at Abqaiq and Khurais. Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said it was irresponsible to accuse oth- ers “in the absence of a conclusive investigation or verdict”.
“The Chinese side’s position is that we oppose all actions that enlarge or intensify conflict,” she told reporters at a press conference in Beijing. “We hope that both sides can exercise restraint and jointly safeguard the peace and stability of the Middle East.”
Hua added that her government wanted all concerned parties “to avoid actions that could escalate regional tensions”.
While Houthi rebels in Yemen have claimed responsibility for the attacks, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has blamed Iran and has hinted that military action could be on the cards. Pompeo tweeted on September 15 that Iran had “launched an unprecedented attack on the world’s energy supply. There is no evidence the attacks came from Yemen.”
He added: “The US will work with our part- ners and allies to ensure that energy markets
Image: EPA/NASA Worldview
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w w w . N E W S B A S E . c o m Week 37 18•September•2019