Chinas rapid economic growth has led to a huge increase in its domestic energy needs. This book provides a critical overview of how Chinas growing need for oil imports is shaping its international economic and diplomatic strategy and how this affects global political relations and behaviour.

Part One is focused on the domestic drivers of energy policy: it provides a systematic account of recent trends in Chinas energy sector and assesses the context and processes of energy policy making, and concludes by showing how and why Chinas oil industry has spread across the world in the last fifteen years. Part Two analyses the political and foreign policy implications of this energy-driven expansion and the challenges this potentially poses for Chinas integration into the international system. It examines a number of factors linked to this integration in the energy field, including the unpredictabilities of internal policymaking; Chinas determination to promote its own critical national interests, and the general ambition of the Chinese leadership to integrate with the international system on its own terms and at its own speed.

The highly topical book draws together the various dimensions of Chinas international energy strategy, and provides insights into the impact of this on Chinas growing international presence in various parts of the world.