ATASU, Kazakhstan — The wind-raked scrub of this barren plateau reveals little hint of the revolution gurgling 9 feet beneath.
China’s first international oil pipeline, buried in the Kazakh steppe, is a milestone for the world’s newest empire–one forged not in the name of destiny or God, but in pursuit of the planet’s most valuable resources.
From the Himalayas to the Yellow Sea, China’s cities are exploding in size. Their factories are filling shelves around the globe. The country’s brand-new middle class is buying cars so fast that China is on pace to have more vehicles than America in two decades.
China had enough oil to sustain itself just 15 years ago. Now it is one of the world’s thirstiest oil addicts, importing 40 percent of what it needs. Only the U.S. consumes more.