China's demand for oil jumped by an “astonishing' 28% in January compared with the same month a year earlier, the International Energy Agency (IEA) says.
Here is a quick run down on what China is doing in Iraq, and it is all about oil. I find it interesting that China is getting more involved with really risky resource ventures in places like Iraq or the Congo. And what that means to this industry, is that the Chinese will find a way to secure these ventures and investments. You will either see Chinese security folks, or they will use local nationals for the work. But like with most security work, they tend to go with the kind of security they can really trust and depend upon for the most sensitive projects. Especially to guard oil executives.
The other thing about this that is frustrating, is that information about Chinese private security companies is very thin. Maybe there is tons of stuff on Chinese servers?. Who knows, but it is an area that I would like to learn more about as the fight for resources increases in the coming future. Our industry will only see more involvement in that resource war, and it is important to track this stuff.
In Iraq, you could very well see a situation where you see Chinese security contractors rolling down the highway in SUVs, or posted at some gate of some oil facility. If any readers have any stories about bumping into Chinese military or contractors in Iraq, please feel free to post away in the comments. Like I said, there is nothing written about Chinese PMC's or PSC's, and I would like to see Feral Jundi's archives fill up with some more data about that. I will keep looking, and if anyone finds anything else, let me know. Especially for Africa, because China is really involved there.
BusinessWeek article entitled Red Star Over Iraq
So thoughtful of the US to spend our blood and treasure to set this all up for the Chinese now wasn't it? |