Cooperation and Competition between China and Its Neighboring Countries in the Field of Natural Resources
中国与周边国家在资源领域的合作与竞争

Resources deficiency is one of the fundamental situations in China, which will influence economic growth and social development of China. This paper analyzes cooperation and competition between China and its neighboring countries in the field of natural resources. After study on supply & demand situation of primary resources (such as petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, manganese, copper, log) in China and its neighboring countries, the authors argue that the relations between China and its neighboring countries is not only competition but also cooperation. The author takes oil as an example and classifies China's neighboring countries into three categories: the first category of the countries depends deeply on foreign petroleum, such as Japan, Korea and India. The second category includes the countries whose oil production can meet their own demand approximately, and the third category covers the countries that can export oil to the outside market. Only the countries with first category could challenge China in utilization of resources of neighboring countries. There is no reason to consider, however, that relations between China and such neighboring countries are like a "zero-sum" game. The four countries are the major petroleum consumption countries in the world and under the pressure of great demand for petroleum. According to the data of BP statistical review of world energy, petroleum consumptions of the four countries and region, including Hong Kong SAR, are one-fifth of the world average in 2003, Therefore, they should devote themselves to strengthening energy cooperation in such domain as restraining petroleum price fluctuation, exchanging successful experience in establishing strategy petroleum reserve and improving energy efficiency, as well as in ensuring major oil transport corridor security like strait of Malaga, and so on. It is pointed out that China and its neighboring countries have much more common interests than divergent views in resources security. Moreover, most important things that should be done include establishment of a dialogue mechanism in energy security to avoid hostility and mutual inhibition competition, especially in exploration of oil and natural gas in Russian and Central Asian.