ERICKSON Andrew <br/><br/>
Beijing's energy security strategy :  the significance of a Chinese state owned tanker fleet / 
Andrew Erickson, Gabe Collins 
 -  2007 
<br/><br/> China's growing economy requires ever larger quantities of energy, especially oil, to sustain it. Most of its oil is imported by sea, the majority in foreign owned or flagged vessels. There appears to be some impetus to change this situation so that in future China will transport most of its oil in its own ships. However this is only part of the answer for China's oil security concerns. Whatever flag the tankers fly supplies will still be vulnerable because of maritime choke points, piracy, and terrorism e.g. 85% of supplies pass through the Malacca Straits. Consequently China also needs a navy strong enough to protect the tanker fleets. 
<br/><br/><label>Subjects--Topical Terms: </label><br/>CHINA--NAVAL POWER<br/>CHINA--OIL IMPORTS<br/>CHINA--OIL TANKERS<br/>CHINA--MERCHANT SHIPPING