ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we examine the role of Russian oil and gas in the broader Chinese context, including the main actors and perspectives on the Chinese side of the relationship, the exigencies of China’s economic geography and energy markets, and the broader geopolitical situation. We argue that there is a match between Russian natural resources and Chinese markets, and that long-term developments in world politics as well domestic developments in China and Russia constitute a foundation for extensive energy cooperation in the future. But there are numerous sources of tension in the bilateral relationship, particularly from the Chinese point of view. The most important are the slow speed at which Russia is proceeding in the development of new fields and pipeline construction, the unpredictability of Russian decision-making, latent rivalry in Central Asia, and attempts by Moscow to play off China and Japan against each other.
