No Free Rides in Iraq

Openly derided by U.S. and European officials, China's approach to Iraq has been viewed with skepticism.

The rhetoric has centered on the idea that China has an obligation to maintain peace in the Middle East against the expansion of the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) and other extremist militants.

Many western scholars and politicians have criticized China for its absence in the region's peace process despite the fact that the country's demand for Iraqi oil is growing. China has an increasing dependence on oil imports. According to the International Energy Agency's latest estimates, China's oil imports will account for 75 percent of its total oil consumption by 2030.