African Oil for Arms From China

This feels hauntingly familiar. It reminds me of the "Cold War" era and Soviet influence in Africa.

Analysis: Chinese arms and African oil

by Andrei Chang
Hong Kong (UPI) Nov 5, 2007

China has been promoting arms-for-oil deals with Africa as the continent is becoming one of its major sources of oil. Since last year, top Chinese leaders and military officers have made frequent visits to Africa. And at the Zhuhai Air Show under way this week in southern China's Guangdong province, military delegations from African countries including Sudan, Angola and Zimbabwe have made frequent appearances.

In 2005, Angola exported to China nearly 17.5 million tons of crude oil, becoming China's second largest oil supplier after Saudi Arabia. Oil from Angola makes up nearly 14 percent of China's annual oil imports, valued at $6.58 billion. In the months of January and February last year, Angola surpassed Saudi Arabia to become China's largest supplier of crude oil, providing 456,000 barrels per day.

China's influence in Angola is becoming increasingly noticeable. The...(complete article here).