By Supporting China, Saudi Arabia Risks Secondary Sanctions
Commentary
Saudi Arabia was China’s biggest oil supplier in April, according to the latest data released on May 20. China’s oil imports from the kingdom rose 2.9 percent year-to-date.
Saudi oil imported into China in April totaled 8.46 million tons (2.06 million barrels per day). This exceeded the 7.12 million tons imported from Russia and 4.72 million tons from Iraq.
In exchange for its oil, the Saudis are increasing arms imports from China. While the United States has been Saudi Arabia’s biggest source for military materiel in the past, that supply is tenuous because of continued Saudi human rights abuse, unreasonable restriction of Saudi oil supply last year during an energy-fueled rise in inflation, and Riyadh’s reorientation of oil exports to China….