China's Energy Security Needs in Southeast Asia Region: an Impact tovvards Malaysia's National Security

The vibrant and rapid economic growth in China has led to rising demand for energy security such as oil and natural gas. Currently, China is the second largest consumer oil in the world but possesses limited national resources. To fulfill the rising demand, China looks to Southeast Asia (SEA) Region with relatively underexploited oil and natural gas. The impressive economic growth of the emerging economies in the SEA Region has led to an equally impressive increase in energy production. China's rapid industrial growth has made it the world's largest energy consumer since 2009. China's economy is growing faster than any other countries. Between now and 2040, China's economy will increase to five times its current size and its energy demand is expected to more than double. China will overtake United States as the leader of global oil demand growth in the mid-2030s. Its net oil imports are expected to reach 9.3 million barrels a day by 2040. By that time, despite efforts to increase domestic oil production, China will depend on imports for 90% of its oil from other regions. China development has seen the needs of energy are increasing. The factors which contribute to this situation are the development of China in term of industrialization, military modernization and growth of people that contribute to development of accommodations as well as increasing numbers of vehicles. If the challenges are failed to be resolved, it will effect China's development. China's traditional contributors in term of energy sources are from Middle East countries and Russia but the volatile situation in the source region as well as the potential threat on the Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC) does not promise the needs of China's energy sources can be fulfilled. Therefore, China needs to find a secured source by cooperating in energy industries in other countries. The significant event that happen in achieving its objective in securing it energy needs took place in SEA Region especially in maritime nations in South China Sea (SCS) such as Malaysia. China accounts for more than half of the total production in Asia and imports additional oil to meet domestic demand as Malaysia is among the largest oil producers in Asia. There is a fear regarding China's stand on SCS overlapping issue as the ASEAN Member States, including Malaysia, are the joint SCS claimants. Previously, the China Coast Guard (CCG) has harassed Malaysian vessels near the Petronas's Giant Kasawari Gas Field in Beting Patinggi Ali (Luciana Shoals). It was third time since last spring that the CCG has harassed Malaysian energy exploration. Last year, Malaysia scrambled its fighter jets to chase away the Chinese aircraft that violated Malaysia's air space near the Sarawak's water. Malaysia said that this violation was a serious threat to its national sovereignty. Malaysia will definitely have to take necessary steps and actions to formulate policies. Therefore, this research is to identify the factors that forced China focusing its energy needs in SEA region especially in Malaysia and subsequently to identify the strategies used by China in engaging with SEA region especially in Malaysia to secure its energy needs and finally, to analyses the impact towards Malaysia's National Security in term of political, economy, military and SCS security.

Pertumbuhan ekonomi yang rancak dan pemodenan ketenteraan di China telah membawa kepada permintaan tinggi untuk minyak dan gas asli. Pada masa ini, China adalah pengguna minyak kedua terbesar di dunia tetapi mempunyai sumber negara yang terhad. Untuk memenuhi permintaan yang semakin meningkat, China melihat ke Rantau Asia Tenggara dengan minyak dan gas asli yang agak kurang dieksploitasi. Pe11umbuhan ekonomi yang memberangsangkan dan pesat membangun di Rantau Asia Tenggara telah membawa kepada peningkatan yang sama dalam pengeluaran tenaga. Pertumbuhan perindustrian China yang pesat telah menjadikannya pengguna tenaga terbesar di dunia sejak 2009 . Ekonomi China berkembang lebih pantas berbanding negara lain. Antara sekarang dan 2040, ekonomi China akan meningkat kepada lima kali ganda saiz semasa dan permintaan tenaganya dijangka meningkat lebih daripada dua kali ganda. China akan mengatasi Amerika Syarikat sebagai peneraju pertumbuhan permintaan minyak global pada pertengahan tahun 2030. Import minyak bersihnya dijangka mencecah 9.3 juta tong sehari menjelang 2040. Pada masa itu, walaupun terdapat usaha untuk meningkatkan pengeluaran minyak domestik, China akan bergantung kepada import untuk 90% minyaknya dari wilayah lain. Faktor-faktor yang menyumbang kepada keadaan ini ialah pembangunan China dari segi perindustrian, pemodenan ketenteraan dan pertumbuhan penduduk yang menyumbang kepada pembangunan penginapan serta peningkatan bilangan kenderaan. Sekiranya cabaran ini gagal diselesaikan, ia akan memberi kesan kepada pembangunan China. Penyumbang tradisional China dari segi sumber tenaga adalah dari negara-negara Timur Tengah dan Rusia tetapi keadaan yang tidak menentu di rantau tersebut serta potensi ancaman pada Sea Lines of Communication tidak menjanjikan keperluan sumber tenaga China dapat dipenuhi. Oleh itu, China perlu mencari sumber terjamin dengan bekerjasama dalam industri tenaga di negara lain. Peristiwa penting yang berlaku dalam mencapai objektifnya dalam menjamin keperluan tenaga berlaku di Rantau Asia Tenggara terutamanya di Malaysia. China menyumbang lebih separuh daripada jumlah pengeluaran di Asia dan mengimport minyak tambahan untuk memenuhi permintaan domestik. Terdapat kebimbangan mengenai pendirian China dalam isu pertindihan Laut China Selatan yang melibatkan Malaysia. Sebelum ini, Kapal Pengawal Pantai China telah mengganggu kapal Malaysia berhampiran Medan Gas Kasawari milik Petronas di Beting Patinggi Ali. Tahun lepas, Malaysia mengerahkan jet pejuangnya untuk menghalau pesawat China yang memasuki ruang udara Malaysia tanpa kebenaran berhampiran perairan Sarawak. Oleh yang demikian, penyelidikan ini bertujuan untuk mengenalpasti faktor-faktor yang memaksa China memfokuskan keperluan tenaganya di Rantau Asia Tenggara khususnya di Malaysia dan seterusnya mengenalpasti strategi yang digunakan oleh China dan akhir sekali, kesan terhadap Keselamatan Negara dari segi politik, ekonomi, ketenteraan dan keselamatan di Laut China Selatan.