The Great Leap Offshore: Sino-Norwegian Relations and Petro-Knowledge Transfers, 1976–1997

China’s reemergence among the world’s leading economic and political powers has been one of most defining changes in international order since end Cold War. Underpinning ascent were reforms instituted across late 1970s early 1980s that opened its economy to foreign direct investments. Preceding these ambitions entertained for continental shelf, optimistically forecasting it as nothing less than “the richest petroleum reservoir.” This article will attempt link phenomena by examining readjustment conjunction with capital- technology-intensive requirements offshore oil industry. It explore how knowledge was diffused between Norway China: notably, Chinese reformers abandoned Daqinigst doctrine self-reliance favor a hybrid Norwegian model governance. Even though exploration efforts proved disappointing, episode had both long-term commercial ramifications. during this often-overlooked Chinese, international, indeed history Norway’s national company, Statoil, took first steps outside shelf inspired formation own China National Offshore Oil Corporation.