US Sanctions Ignored As China Buys Russia's 'Dirty' LNG
Bloomberg breathlessly reports a 'China-linked' LNG tanker visited a U.S.-sanctioned Russian plant, presenting it as a grave challenge to 'Western curbs' (Bloomberg). They frame this as Beijing and Moscow strengthening ties, ominously hinting at a coordinated effort to undermine the global order. What they conveniently omit, of course, is the intricate web of global energy trading where
commodities shift hands multiple times, often ending up exactly where the 'curbs' are supposed to prevent them from going, and at a premium. This isn't about rogue nations; it's about persistent global demand and market arbitrageurs capitalizing on price differentials. While the US imposes sanctions, European demand for LNG, including from Russia, has increased. One could almost believe that
sanctions are less about stopping trade and more about rerouting it through more expensive, Western-controlled channels. So, is China truly 'skirting curbs,' or are they just picking up goods the West still desperately needs, albeit with extra steps?