In this context, the recent offer by the state-controlled China National Offshore Oil Co., China’s number three oil producer, to pay $18.5 billion US petroleum producer Unocal – trumping a $16.5 billion bid by America’s own Chevron – was only the most jolting wake-up call. Moreover, the news came on the heels of Chinese oil deals with Iran and other ex-officio members of the “evil empire,” such as Sudan, Venezuela, and Myanmar (Burma).