Saudi Arabia Hears A Hu

Chinese President Hu Jintao was in Saudi Arabia over the weekend building ties. Tiring of the incessant pushing on human rights, democracy and terrorism, the Saudis are turning to China which buys their oil with no questions asked,

"With the Chinese there are no strings attached," said Gal Luft, co-director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security in Washington and a former Israeli Army officer who advocates reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil. "They don't talk to you about democracy or reform. They give money, the Saudis give oil and there are no hidden agendas. The Saudis find those kinds of relationships more appealing."

The funny thing is, China's hands-off relationship won't last. Hu himself said, "The Middle East is a vital region in the world, and there will be no achievements or development in the world without a stable Middle East." There's no doubt in my mind that the Saudis think Hu meant China will not interfere in their internal matters as long as the oil flows. But what happens if terrorism or reform-minded Saudis threaten to turn off the tap?

China wants Middle Eastern oil, and it's going to get sucked into Middle Eastern politics to keep the taps open.

The first time China sends security forces to the Middle East -- probably within the next five years, and hopefully as part of a UN operation rather than on their own -- certain factions in America are going to freak out. President Bush talks about China as a "stakeholder in the international system," but I don't think he fully realizes what that means. China is forging diplomatic and trade ties from South America to Africa to the Middle East to Southeast Asia -- and they'll want to protect their strategic interests. That's why they're building up their military.

And here is where the Republican's distrust of international organizations is going to come back and bite them. Right this very minute, the United States should be tying China into as many multilateral institutions as possible to keep them on a leash. President Hu said, "China and the United States share extensive, common strategic interests." He's absolutely right, and we should embrace China in pursuit of those interests rather than set up an adversarial relationship that encourages them to act on their own.

tags: republicans  china