Africa: clash of the American and Chinese geopolitical interests

Yemen is considered to be the cradle of the Arab world. In the north Yemen borders Saudi Arabia, narrow part of the western border falls on the Red Sea area, the southern border faces the Gulf of Aden while the Oman is in the east. Political system of Yemen allows the country to maneuver among the endless mosaic of tribes that are characterized by the different degree of the territorial independence. Tribal differences are also connected to the division of the country population onto Sunni — who make up the majority with the insignificant superiority in numbers — and the Shia who make up about 45% of population.In the recent year Shiaz have undergone numerous attacks from the governmental troops.
In November 2009 the conflict was first internationalized. Air Forces of Saudi Arabia bombed the Shiites’ positions at Jebel Duchan. Saudis were afraid of the Shiites’ strengthening — in Saudi Arabia itself they make up the oppressed minority.
The USA are playing their own political game in the region. They are interested mostly in one question: who will control Bab-el-Mandeb strait?
Bab-el-Mandeb strait between Yemen, Djibouti and Eritrea is a key to the “oil path” between Africa and the Middle East — it connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean. Every day 3.5 million barrels of oil “float” through it to the USA, Europe and Asia. Besides that, oil fields in the Masila and Shabwa basins are also located in Yemen, which neighbors the Saudi Arabia. Geopolitical significance of Yemen and Somali turn these countries into the sphere of the U.S. strategic interests.
Americans have outstripped China that has also stated the need to create a military base in the western part of the Indian Ocean. For now, only Iran is open for China in that region as long as the rest of the countries have already been pulled inside of the NATO orbit. Control over the Aden port in Yemen brings huge benefits to the Americans and opens the infinite possibilities for maneuver in front of them.
China, on its part, is trying to improve its influence in Sri Lanka and Burma in order to form the new transport paths in the Persian Gulf, Africa and Middle East area. Recently, British press media reported that the USA promised to delete Burma out of the “axis of evil”-countries list if it stops “playing on the Chinese side”.
Thus, it is unlikely that the political games in the regions will cease in the nearest future. On the contrary, American desire to control everything possible might lead to another outbreak of instability in this already instable part of the world.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/africa-clash-american-and-chinese-geopolitical-interests