The Potential of Energy as a Geopolitical Binding Factor in Asia

Amy Myers Jaffa
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引用次数: 6

Abstract

A specialist on geopolitical issues involving the world's energy resources explores the implications of rising energy demand in Asia as a function of future economic development in high-population countries (e.g., China, India) in the region. A focus is on issues and challenges in managing energy security and the potential for cooperation and conservation vis-a-vis competition in energy resource allocation. Included in the analysis is consideration of the role of rising oil output from Russia and the possible development of new hydrocarbon resources in Kazakhstan, the Russian Far East, and East Siberia as a potential source of supply for China. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: L71, 010, Q41. 2 tables, 40 references. From Daniel Yergin's award-winning book The Prize (Yergin, 1991) to Kent Calder's less notable, but still influential volume Asia's Deadly Triangle (Calder, 1996), authors who have tackled the difficult subject of oil have tended to emphasize the competition for scarce resources as the driving force of oil geopolitics, especially where Asia is concerned. Calder warned in his 1997 book that "expansionist, confrontational strategies, not to mention the acquisition of nuclear weapons, offer some attractive prospects of gain to regional powers, such as preferential access to energy resources and sea lanes in the South China Sea (ibid., p. 136). In an analysis that became common wisdom among China watchers, Calder noted that this strategic rivalry, if unchecked, represents "a recipe for disaster" and will increase the likelihood of conflict in Asia. Author Michael Klare jumped on this bandwagon more recently with a similarly sexily titled book, Resource Wars (Klare, 2001), proclaiming that "clearly it is not possible to explain the dynamics of global security affairs without recognizing the pivotal importance of resource competition" (ibid., p. 14). But energy markets could just as easily be oversupplied as undersupplied in the coming decades, depending on the energy policies undertaken by key consuming countries such as the United States, China, and Japan in the coming decade. The September 11 attack on the United States casts its shadow over this question of energy resources in several different ways. First, it makes even clearer than before the inherent risks associated with heavy reliance on oil supplies from the volatile Middle East. But the war of terror also raises the possibilities that this dependence could be reduced if large consuming nations band together on energy policy in a fashion similar to that currently evident in the construction of an international coalition against terrorism. Signs that Russia, the United States, and China can join forces on common strategic goals where terrorism is concerned leaves open the question of whether there could be other areas for cooperation, including the energy arena. 'Senior Energy Advisor, James A. Baker III Institute For Public Policy, Rice University, Baker Hall, Suite 120, Houston, TX 77005.
能源作为亚洲地缘政治约束因素的潜力
一位研究涉及世界能源资源的地缘政治问题的专家探讨了亚洲能源需求上升对该地区人口众多的国家(如中国、印度)未来经济发展的影响。重点是管理能源安全方面的问题和挑战,以及在能源资源分配竞争方面进行合作和节约的潜力。分析中还考虑了俄罗斯石油产量上升的作用,以及哈萨克斯坦、俄罗斯远东地区和东西伯利亚地区可能开发的新碳氢化合物资源,作为中国的潜在供应来源。经济文献,分类号:L71, 010, Q41。2表,参考文献40篇。从丹尼尔·耶金的获奖著作《大奖》(耶金,1991年)到肯特·考尔德的不那么引人注目但仍有影响力的著作《亚洲的致命三角》(考尔德,1996年),探讨石油这一棘手主题的作者都倾向于强调,对稀缺资源的争夺是石油地缘政治的驱动力,尤其是在涉及亚洲的地方。考尔德在他1997年的书中警告说,“扩张主义、对抗性战略,更不用说获得核武器,为地区大国提供了一些诱人的收益前景,比如优先获得南中国海的能源资源和海上通道(同上,第136页)。”考尔德在一篇分析文章中指出,如果不加以控制,这种战略竞争将是“灾难的根源”,并将增加亚洲发生冲突的可能性。这篇文章已成为中国观察人士的共识。作者Michael Klare最近也加入了这一潮流,他在2001年出版的《资源战争》一书中宣称:“显然,如果不认识到资源竞争的关键重要性,就不可能解释全球安全事务的动态”(同上,第14页)。但未来几十年,能源市场既可能供过于求,也可能供过于求,这取决于美国、中国和日本等主要能源消费国在未来10年采取的能源政策。9月11日对美国的袭击从几个不同的方面给能源问题投下了阴影。首先,严重依赖动荡的中东地区的石油供应所带来的内在风险比以往任何时候都更加清晰。但反恐战争也提出了这样一种可能性:如果能源消费大国在能源政策上联合起来,就像目前建立国际反恐联盟那样,这种依赖就有可能减少。有迹象表明,俄罗斯、美国和中国可以在涉及恐怖主义的共同战略目标上进行合作,这让人怀疑是否可以在包括能源领域在内的其他领域进行合作。赖斯大学詹姆斯·a·贝克三世公共政策研究所高级能源顾问,贝克厅120套房,休斯顿,德克萨斯州77005。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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