Behind the churning 11.3 trillion dollar machine that is China’s economic policy stands its chief engineer, Wen Jiabao. As Prime Minister, Jiabao has spent the last nine years orchestrating Beijing’s powerful fiscal policy with an increasing eye towards feeding the nation’s insatiable energy appetite. However, to oil the machine, Jiabao and his fellow technocrats have proven indiscriminate, forging close ties with North Korea, Iran, Syria, and Venezuela. Unsurprisingly, China has disregarded the newest round of Iran sanctions levied by Washington, indicating that Beijing will let economic interests determine its loyalties. With discord brewing in the Middle East, Jiabao’s oil dollars threaten to help grind the gears of conflict.