China's Energy Security

Over the last year, Thomas Friedman has frequently promoted China's green face to the world. Perhaps it's time the esteemed NYT columnist and foreign policy specialist began paying attention to the other China, the one that's been on a fossil fuel buying spree the past few years. There's even a nifty climate change angle for Friedman, should he take a look at China's latest Canadian foray, confirmed this week: a $4.65 billion deal that gives China another sizable helping of Canada's Oil Sands pie. I can understand all the continuing interest in China's green tech investment. What I don't understand is why mainstream commentators pay little attention to China's continuing procurement of dirty energy reserves around the world. Friedman's blind spot seems especially curious given his focus on the nexus between national security and energy. And make no mistake, there are serious strategic implications, which some China watchers in DC have already noted. Those implications are being considered this week by some Canadian pols, according to The Globe and the Mail: