China and Iraqi Oil

[Dayuhan]

Again this tells us what we already know: the Chinese are pursuing exploration and production opportunities, even in places posing risks that most other oil companies find unacceptable. I suppose we could complain that they are not following our sanctions on Iran, but neither are the Norwegians, or practically anyone else. So again, is this a threat, a problem, a concern? If so, how?

Would we rather see China spending money to develop new production in places too risky to attract other investment, or using that big pile of dollars to bid against us for the output of existing producers?

[Surferbeetle]

Again this tells us what we already know: the Chinese are pursuing exploration and production opportunities, even in places posing risks that most other oil companies find unacceptable. I suppose we could complain that they are not following our sanctions on Iran, but neither are the Norwegians, or practically anyone else. So again, is this a threat, a problem, a concern? If so, how?

Would we rather see China spending money to develop new production in places too risky to attract other investment, or using that big pile of dollars to bid against us for the output of existing producers?

My purpose in posting the above datapoints is not to assign a value judgment, but instead to note that Iraq's future landscape, IMHO, includes a Chinese presence. See this post for additional clarification.