Geopolitical analysis of China's energy security policies: The Middle East case

The People's Republic of China started to experience a significant transformation process with the reforms initiated by Deng Xiaopin in 1978. The most striking dimension of this transformation in the world has been economic growth. Increasing economic growth has continuously increased China's energy demand and China became a net importer of oil in 1993. Most of the imports are from the Middle East region. The growth of the Chinese polity is based on production, and for production to be sustained, there must be a secure, clean, uninterrupted flow of energy. China's economic growth has become a national issue, and its solution is possible by ensuring energy security. The Chinese government is trying to strengthen cultural, economic, commercial and political relations with the Middle Countries to ensure energy security and energy needs. In the study, based on the theoretical framework of energy geopolitics China's geopolitical approach to the Middle East region in the face of increasing energy demand how it ensures energy security and energy diplomacy were analyzed. The aim of the study is to analyze the role of the Middle East region in the increasing energy needs of the rising power China. Within the scope of the study answers were sought to the questions of the strategic importance of the Middle East region in the change and transformation of China's national energy security policies and from which sources China provides its increasing energy needs. Whithin the scope of the research the importance of the Middle East region in the increasing energy needs in the world has been understood once again for the world and China. As a result of the study it has been concluded that the world power balances have changed and that the People's Republic of China has a very important place in this change with its rising economy. It has been understood how important China's increasing energy needs are both for itself and for the international energy market with its rising economy. Keywords: China, Middle East, Energy Geopolitics, Energy Security, Energy Diplomacy