China Resource Quest Goes Aussie

China is hungry, very hungry for natural resources. Now they've signed a $1.2 billion deal to purchase iron ore from a privately-held firm, Mineralogy, which has a massive iron ore operation in Western Australia. More details here.

The conventional wisdom is that economic ties reduce the risk of military conflict -- but with China, it's risky to think conventionally. They happy-face the whole trade thing, but as their military academies preach war and train for war, economic deals like this seem more like economic skirmishes.

Will that Aussie iron ore end up as swords or plowshares?

Tags: China, Australia, Military, Arms