Francis Matthew

China and Middle East Oil, A Strategic Interest

China and Middle East Oil, A Strategic Interest

China is taking a close interest in the Arab world as a source of its oil. It cares little about the politics of the region and cares less about who is in charge of Syria, but it desperately wants secure supplies of oil since 51 per cent — an astonishingly high quantity — of all its crude imports come from the Middle East.

FRANCIS MATTHEW: China is taking a close interest in the Arab world as a source of its oil. It cares little about the politics of the region and cares less about who is in charge of Syria, but it desperately wants secure supplies.

 Francis Matthew

Iran-US Relations Thaw, Politics Continues

Iran-US Relations Thaw, Politics Continues

Iran and the US have growing technical agreement over the nuclear dispute, which will only become useful if the political leaders on both sides want to make a deal.

FRANCIS MATTHEW: A technical agreement over the nuclear dispute will only be useful if leaders on both sides want to make a deal.