Dr. James T. H. Tang – Brookings Institution

Dr. James T. H. Tang recently spoke on a panel at UC San Francisco about a paradox in China’s bull run in energy consumption and its effect on business.

He made several points of interest.

1. Chinese energy needs have caused Beijing to change its behavior. Energy needs are crucial to growth for China and the excessive demands have created a destablization on global resources.

2. China is now forced to deal with countries that have not been traditional partners – Africa, Latin America, the Middle East (Saudi, Iran), India and Australia.

3.  China is forced to become more diplomatic in its relations, to come up with consistent foreign policies and consider regional stabilization.

4. China must now consider the interests of other countries AND think of ways to develop energy domestically – nuclear power for peaceful purposes.

5. Energy and the need for it is linked or can be linkied to controlling China’s behavior – energy diplomacy.

There is a rein around this big dragon’s neck now. Or is there?

What do you think?

Tell me. Tell Dr. Tang at jtang@brookings.edu