Congressional China Caucus

INDIA, CHINA TO JOINTLY EXPLORE ENERGY ASSETS OVERSEAS.  The WSJ reports that India and China’s largest oil companies have agreed to jointly explore for oil and gas world-wide, in an attempt to put aside a long-standing rivalry.  From the piece: “While the two energy-deficient countries already work together on several international oil projects, they also have a long history of bad relations, and of proposing cost-reducing alliances to jointly buy foreign energy assets and crude-oil that mostly have come to nothing.  According to an initial pact signed Monday between state-run Oil & Natural Gas Corp. of India and China National Petroleum Corp., the two will jointly explore assets in other countries, cementing existing partnerships in Myanmar, Syria and Sudan.  ‘We think it is better to cooperate than compete,’ said Dinesh Sarraf, managing director of ONGC Videsh Ltd., ONGC's overseas investment arm.”  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303836404577476090216555460.html

CHINESE COMMERCE MINISTER SEES JUNE ECONOMY ‘TURNING FOR BETTER.’  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-19/chinese-commerce-minister-sees-june-economy-turning-for-better-.html

U.S. AND CHINA IN CYBERSPACE: UNEASY NEXT STEPS.  A piece from Adam Segal of the Council on Foreign Relations discusses last week’s cyber dialogue sponsored by the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations and the Center for Strategic and International Studies.  From the piece: “The mistrust has been worsened by both sides inability to signal intentions. This is of course difficult in cyberspace; governments can say that they have nothing to do with attacks but the attribution problem makes it difficult to verify those statements. Moreover, the United States has repeatedly stated that the primary mission of Cyber Command is the defense of U.S. networks, not offensive operations. Not surprisingly, the Chinese are weighing capabilities as much as, if not more than, expressed intent… It is a cliche that cyber events can occur in hours, if not minutes, but the two sides need to prepare for the almost inevitable crisis. Summoning the other side’s ambassador for an explanation may have worked in the past, but it will be too slow today.”  http://blogs.cfr.org/asia/2012/06/18/u-s-and-china-in-cyberspace-uneasy-next-steps/

ACCORDING TO PHILIPPINE PRESS, CHINA SHIPS STAY IN PANATAG SHOAL.  http://globalnation.inquirer.net/40487/china-not-pulling-out-7-vessels-around-scarborough-shoal

DALAI LAMA DISMISSES CHINA’S THREAT.  According to the BBC, the Dalai Lama has dismissed China’s threat to pull its Olympics team from a training camp in Leeds if the Tibetan spiritual leader is permitted to visit the city in the United Kingdom.  From the piece: “The Dalai Lama has dismissed as ‘almost routine’ a threat by China to pull its Olympics team out of a training camp in Leeds because of his visit to the city.  The Tibetan spiritual leader's comments came before he addressed the Yorkshire International Business Convention.  It is thought Chinese officials asked Leeds City Council to put pressure on the organizers to cancel his visit.  The 76-year-old Dalai Lama said on Friday: ‘That is always happening, that is almost like routine.’  Although the council distanced itself from the business convention, it said it was aware of ‘sensitivities’ around the event at which the Dalai Lama will discuss business ethics.”  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-18445240

CHEN IN NYC, TAKES A HARDER LOOK AT CHINA.  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/world/asia/chen-guangcheng-is-safe-in-new-york-but-thinks-of-china.html

The Caucus Brief is a daily publication for Members of Congress and Hill Staffers on China news and information compiled by the office of Congressman Randy Forbes, Founder of the Congressional China Caucus.  Email Reed.Eckhold@mail.house.gov with tips, comments, or to subscribe/unsubscribe.