China received a rare royal visit from its biggest crude oil supplier last month, as Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Salman kept up the kingdom's recently high diplomatic profile. Coming just before US President Barack Obama's attempt to personally reassure Riyadh of Washington's continuing support, the Saudi heir apparent's visit to Beijing followed similar calls in February on other key Asian oil customers, including Japan and India (EC Mar.21' 14). The implicit message? Saudi Arabia's Asia pivot is not mere rhetoric, and Riyadh isn't standing idly by as the US, its former long-time biggest oil export market, becomes ever more energy-independent. It's seeking a new diplomatic path forward. However, for all the Saudi crude China can consume — 1.08 million barrels per day in 2013 — Beijing is neither willing nor currently able to fill the security void should the US disengage from the Mideast, as many in the region feel it is gradually doing.
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