ChinaToday
SENIOR MEMBER
The relationship between Beijing and Tripoli during the 42-year reign of Col. Moammar Gadhafi included a narrative of brothers-in-arms solidarity and plenty of anti-imperialism rhetoric. But now that it appears to be ending, that relationship looks like it was more delicate than most realize.
In recent years, the Libyan regime clashed with the Chinese on everything from the rising powers inroads into Africa to Col. Gadhafis economic and political ties with Taiwan. China, which is scouring the world for resources to feed its economy, saw its crude imports from Libya more than double since 2008. But its state-owned oil companies seemed to lack the needed political capital with the Gadhafi regime to gain significant stakes in crude-oil assets in Libya, home to Africas largest proven oil reserves.
Col. Gadhafis anti-imperial diatribes were no doubt warmly received by at least some in Beijing. When fighting picked up this year and Col. Gadhafi appeared under increasing pressure from rebel and NATO bombardment, China initially stood by the Libyan strongman. Beijings fear of the spread of political unrest, which engulfed much of the Arab world in recent months, seemed to outweigh its often public political differences with Col. Gadhafis regime.
Those differences were varied. In 2006, for example, Libya hosted Taiwans then-President Chen Shui-bian, despite loud objections from Beijing. Col. Gadhafis son, Saif Gadhafi, himself had visited Taiwan earlier in the year.
Taiwan in 2008 would open a trade office in Tripoli, even as Beijing warned that ties between Taiwan and Libya undermined the Gadhafi governments relationship with China. Then, in 2009, even as Libya was selling increasing amounts of its oil to China, Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Kusa in an interview with the influential Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper argued that Chinas involvement in Africa reached far beyond normal economic cooperation. The anti-imperial rhetoric long a staple of the Gadhafi regime appeared to be targeting China.
When we look at the reality on the ground we find that there is something akin to a Chinese invasion of the African continent, the foreign minister said. This is something that brings to mind the effects that colonialism had on the African continent.
Also in 2009, the Gadhafi regime blocked the sale of a small Canadian oil company, Verenex Energy Inc., to state-owned China National Petroleum Corp., a significant hiccup in boosting economic ties between the countries.
CNPC, which had already worked on smaller projects in Libya like pipeline construction and provided oilfield exploration services, was looking to make deeper inroads into the country. The Gadhafi regime pressured the Canadian company, which held oil production rights in the countrys Ghadames Basin, to instead sell to Libyas sovereign wealth fund. European firms like Italys Eni SpA and Frances Total SA already had substantial operations in Libya, and the case added to mistrust between Beijing and Tripoli.
No doubt, Col. Gadhafis Libya grew in recent years to be an important trade partner with China China had more than $18 billion in deals and 35,000 citizens living in Libya when fighting broke out but at times they also appeared to be lukewarm friends.
China appeared to support Col. Gadhafi as the rebel movement gained momentum. Its struggling today to shore up relations with the opposition National Transitional Council as a result. The message Beijing seems to be sending: It would rather be seen supporting an on-again, off-again ally and standing firm to its foreign policy of nonintervention than support a movement that it fears could spread far beyond the Arab world.
China and Gadhafi Not as Friendly as Some Assume - China Real Time Report - WSJ
In recent years, the Libyan regime clashed with the Chinese on everything from the rising powers inroads into Africa to Col. Gadhafis economic and political ties with Taiwan. China, which is scouring the world for resources to feed its economy, saw its crude imports from Libya more than double since 2008. But its state-owned oil companies seemed to lack the needed political capital with the Gadhafi regime to gain significant stakes in crude-oil assets in Libya, home to Africas largest proven oil reserves.
Col. Gadhafis anti-imperial diatribes were no doubt warmly received by at least some in Beijing. When fighting picked up this year and Col. Gadhafi appeared under increasing pressure from rebel and NATO bombardment, China initially stood by the Libyan strongman. Beijings fear of the spread of political unrest, which engulfed much of the Arab world in recent months, seemed to outweigh its often public political differences with Col. Gadhafis regime.
Those differences were varied. In 2006, for example, Libya hosted Taiwans then-President Chen Shui-bian, despite loud objections from Beijing. Col. Gadhafis son, Saif Gadhafi, himself had visited Taiwan earlier in the year.
Taiwan in 2008 would open a trade office in Tripoli, even as Beijing warned that ties between Taiwan and Libya undermined the Gadhafi governments relationship with China. Then, in 2009, even as Libya was selling increasing amounts of its oil to China, Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Kusa in an interview with the influential Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper argued that Chinas involvement in Africa reached far beyond normal economic cooperation. The anti-imperial rhetoric long a staple of the Gadhafi regime appeared to be targeting China.
When we look at the reality on the ground we find that there is something akin to a Chinese invasion of the African continent, the foreign minister said. This is something that brings to mind the effects that colonialism had on the African continent.
Also in 2009, the Gadhafi regime blocked the sale of a small Canadian oil company, Verenex Energy Inc., to state-owned China National Petroleum Corp., a significant hiccup in boosting economic ties between the countries.
CNPC, which had already worked on smaller projects in Libya like pipeline construction and provided oilfield exploration services, was looking to make deeper inroads into the country. The Gadhafi regime pressured the Canadian company, which held oil production rights in the countrys Ghadames Basin, to instead sell to Libyas sovereign wealth fund. European firms like Italys Eni SpA and Frances Total SA already had substantial operations in Libya, and the case added to mistrust between Beijing and Tripoli.
No doubt, Col. Gadhafis Libya grew in recent years to be an important trade partner with China China had more than $18 billion in deals and 35,000 citizens living in Libya when fighting broke out but at times they also appeared to be lukewarm friends.
China appeared to support Col. Gadhafi as the rebel movement gained momentum. Its struggling today to shore up relations with the opposition National Transitional Council as a result. The message Beijing seems to be sending: It would rather be seen supporting an on-again, off-again ally and standing firm to its foreign policy of nonintervention than support a movement that it fears could spread far beyond the Arab world.
China and Gadhafi Not as Friendly as Some Assume - China Real Time Report - WSJ