China is developing quickly and needs the oil and other natural resources to continue this rapid growth. She has her own resources, but it will not be enough. China seeks oil and these other natural minerals from the Middle East, Siberia and Africa.
China's big weakness with regard to geopolitics, is its geography. Satellite countries are in a position to cut off China supply to these natural resources if the need arose:
Japan is the region's economic hegemony and has a strong navy.
South Korea is an industrialized nation that seeks the same Russian resources that China is after.
Taiwan continues to disapprove of the Chinese administration and its domestic and international policies. They are concerned also of China's military buildup. However, Taiwan is receiving naval military support from the U.S.; however minimal.
Vietnam has had a long contentious history with China. Geographically, its Cam Ranh Bay, is an excellent naval location and pathway to China's Middle Eastern and African resources.
Australia is allied with the United States and is concerned about China's influence on the region, especially in Indonesia.
India is an economic rival to China due to its greater command of the English language and its boom of business process outsourcing centers. Its large educated workforce is also a threat to China. The Indian Ocean covers the trading lines from the east coast of Africa to the Straits of Malacca, which is the location of the naval lines for much of China's resources. Hence, China's need to support Pakistan for the balance of power in the region. Of course, India shall be seeking support from the U.S. and Russia.
The U.S. has a strong economic relationship with China because of its large expatriate community remitting funds back to China and because of the U.S. demand for exports (albeit, somewhat waning now due to the lead problem).
An alliance of any of these countries can prove to be very difficult for China's foreign policy.
