Global Times: China dragged into African oil disputes

Chad, an emerging oil country in Africa, expelled US-based Chevron Corporation and a Malaysian oil company on Sunday. However according to the Global Times published on August 29th, western media reported that the Chadian government meant to create conditions or "reserve seats" for the entry of Chinese oil companies.

Western media quoted analysts as saying that if, true to expectations, there is a drastic change in geo-political relations in Africa as a whole; the Global Times argues that there are two real reasons behind the driving out of the two companies. One is tax disputes between the two sides and the other is that Chad is going to establish its own oil company. London-based Market Watch believes what the Chadian government did epitomizes the global trend that major oil producers are tightening control over their own resources.

The "China element" added in western reporting is hardly convincing. Chad has engaged in frequent disputes with western companies over oil profits even before the country resumed diplomatic ties with China. Western oil dealers reaped 5 billion US dollars within three years in Chad, whose selling crude oil at low prices have brought tremendous losses to the country.

The West has been paying closer attention to Africa for the sake of resources there. The ever increasing percentage of African oil in US imports has deepened Western speculation about the continuously strengthening Africa-China relations. News from the US say Pentagon is preparing for the establishment of an African theater command. The next step of US is worthy of attention.

By People's Daily Online