Energy Security And Contemporary International Relations

The concept of energy security occurs after oil becomes the dominating energy source. Energy security mostly refers to oil security. Energy security is a traditional security conception, as well as a non-traditional security conception. The traditional characteristic means the competition for oil supply among countries, including the control and military occupancy of oil production regions. Meanwhile, the conception involves non-traditional characteristic. Under contemporary international background, it is a common understanding of major energy consumption countries to ensure energy security through international cooperation, oil market and establishing international energy regimes(such as OPEC, IEA). Currently, energy security has become a multiple issue. The control of energy supply means security as the traditional thought has changed. Along with the establishment and development of world energy market, energy security more focuses on the stable price and the constitution of multilateral energy cooperation. Energy security involves other security issues, such as environmental security and transportation security. Therefore, analyze the influence of energy security can help us have a deeper understanding of the contemporary international relations.The strategic character of oil makes energy security become the important portion of nation's security strategy. On the surface, oil is a commodity which can be bought from market, especially under the globalization background, oil stock is an important type of commerce. Actually, oil is a strategic source. That is because, first, oil is the indispensable material for economic development and military strategy. Secondly, oil is an exiguous resource. Therefore, we can see the intense geopolitical struggle for oil production regions. The countries attach great importance to the major production regions, no matter their development situation. The energy nexus regions are the hot spots in the nation's strategy. These regions become the major objects in great powers geopolitical competition. For example, both the contests for Caspian oil after the Cold War and the Color Revolution in Middle Asia relates to energy issues. Furthermore, energy security involves other security issues, such as maritime transportation security and environmental security. Maritime transportation security is important for energy security. It relates to two aspects: first is the possibility of navy construction of oil import countries which could ignite arms race among other countries; secondly, is the control and competition for the oil transportation risk. Environmental security is another important issue. At present, many environmental problems, such as climate warming, greenhouse effect and acid rain all relate to energy security. The resolution of environmental problems depends on the regulation of country's energy structure and security measures. Environmental security has become an important portion of energy security. This makes modern energy security conception different from the traditional one. The environmental problems have more and more influence on world energy industry, the supply and demand balance and price. The constitution of energy policy and strategy must consider environment protection. The environmental issues have regional and global characteristics. These require the coordination and cooperation among international society. Through the cooperation on environmental issues, countries can promote energy cooperation and the adjustment of international relations.Sino-Japan relation is critical bilateral relation in the world and a major factor influences Asia region's peace and stability. Sino-Japan relation involves many facets, such as history, military, territory, economy, politics and culture disputes. There are emotional issues because of history understanding and the conflict of realistic interest. The dominant problem is the conception and interest competition on security issues. This determines the bilateral relation. At present, the security relation between China and Japan presents the balance of power as a whole, as China on the one side, and US-Japan military ally as the other side. This is the base between the two countries, although the situation is getting intense. First, the lack of communication between leaders makes critical security issues cannot be direct discussed, and there is no enough political resource to resolve these issues. Secondly, there is the opposition on territory and resource, such as Diaoyu Islands and East China Sea disputation. Thirdly, the deterioration on security relation will lead to new conflict.The energy contest between China and Japan is not only in economic field, but relates to territory dispute and makes the energy issue more difficult to resolve. The competition on supply and pipeline between China and Japan has gone beyond the economic competition and involves strategic interests and security strategy. Japan is worried about the rise of China will impair the leadership in East Asia; thereby it exaggerates the China oil threats to be an important content in China threats and regards the oil purchase and navy build as the threats to the leadership of US-Japan military alliance in East Asia. Energy struggle deteriorates the political and security relation between China and Japan and influence regional cooperation.Rivalry is the contemporary characteristic of Sino-Japan energy relation. This is influenced both by the international energy competition and the structural struggle on security strategies. Undoubtedly, the rivalship on energy security will affect the development of Sino-Japan relation, and will become a potential conflict field. The energy competition between China and Japan are: first, the high dependent on the similar foreign oil supply; both of them are major oil importers and have the same suppliers. Secondly, the energy competition relates to territory disputation, such as East China Sea and Diaoyu Islands. Thirdly, the international competition situation; finally, energy security involves strategic interests, such as maritime transportation security and the military deployment At present, negotiate cannot resolve energy dispute. For example, the difference on Chunxiao oil field between the two parties is so big that cannot be resolved through negotiation. There is short of cooperation between the two parties, and new energy conflict is emerging, such as the competition on Siberian oil pipeline. Furthermore, energy contest deteriorates the political and security relations between China and Japan. The energy struggle will intensify the security dilemma. It will be harder to figure out other problems such as Yasukuni Shrine as both sides' emotional reaction. Both defense policies are constructed around energy security. Meanwhile, the expanded military capability of Japan, the deepened US-Japan military ally and the adjusted maritime power around energy security deteriorate security relation.Oil is a critical resource for economic development. The applications of new energy do not change the reality of the dependence on oil, especially the rapid rise of East Asia's command on oil consumption. The economic development in China and India enhances the dependence on Middle East. The degree will larger along with the industrialization progress and the improvement of the standard of living. The security dilemma as well as the history issues impede the energy cooperation between China and Japan, and make the situation more difficult. In fact, there are common interests between the two sides on energy security, especially in non-traditional field. Cooperation is the ultimate way to solve Sino-Japan energy security and conflicts harm both sides. Just as the struggle for Russian oil pipeline. On the other hand, the competition and cooperation between China and Japan influence Northeast Asian energy cooperation. The two processes are interactive. Northeast Asia is the least institutionalized region in the world. There are legacy of Cold War and possibility of shooting war. As regional powers in Northeast Asia, the energy relationship between China and Japan has great influence on the construction of regional energy security cooperation. Therefore, the strategic character of oil makes the two sides cannot follow the lead of France and Germany after the WW II and Asia lacks the political identity like Western European. China and Japan should recur to the energy market and economic globalization to resolve energy dispute. They can cooperate in less sensitive field, such as environmental security and maritime security to promote the cooperation in supply security. Based on that, the two parties should promote the construction of regional multilateral energy cooperation. This will improve the bilateral relationship and bring stability and peace to Northeast Asia. The security dilemma impedes the energy cooperation between China and Japan, although the connection in economy and commerce makes the two parties have common interests in economic development. Therefore, ensure energy security is good for both. The establishment of Northeast energy cooperation will resolve the dependency on Middle East oil supply; improve pluralism strategy and enhance the negotiation capability in international oil market. Meanwhile, oil security cooperation can build confidence more easily and will become the effective frame for the improvement of bilateral relation and energy cooperation.