Re: [A-List] Sustainability of China's Growth

[Mark Jones <jones118@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 12/02/2003 21:25, Henry wrote:
> There is ample oil reserves in the South China Sea and in Western China,
> not to mention all the Central Asia republics.

There is oil in the South China Sea, around Spratly Island. But where
exploration has been delayed because six different
countries claim the drilling rights. They include China, Vietnam, the
Philippines and the USA.

As far as Caspian oil is concerned, and Central Asia generally, there are
probably less than 20bn barrels in the Caspian region. This is about half
the original North Sea resource. China cannot hope therefore to base its
energy future on either of these two reserves, ie Spratly Is or Central Asia.

Mark