ABSTRACT
China's energy security matters to the EU because of its effect on the global oil market, the global environment, and international relations. This chapter focuses on the effect that China's commercial interests in foreign countries especially its energy-related interests are having on its leader's stance toward Beijing's long-standing principle of non-interference. Chinese government officials have supported the overseas activities of the NOCs by cultivating strong bilateral ties with the governments of oil- and gas-rich countries, granting trade advantages, promising investments, and providing aid and other development assistance. The chapter explores the effect energy security could have on the evolution of China's strategic foreign policy, especially on Beijing's principle of non-interference in another country's domestic affairs. It discusses the sub-strategies that could enhance cooperation between the European Union and China in energy-rich countries in which their interests converge and, potentially, collide. It is in both the EU's and China's interests to explore the possibility of creating an organization of oil-importing countries.
