China "Goes Global"

: investimento externo e fusões & aquisições : tendências e motivações do (a)braço corporativo da geopolítica chinesa no sector da Energia & Utilities

Abstract

This study purpose refers to the understanding of the motivational dynamics that lead to the truly global dimension of Chinese investments in the E&U sector. China’s economic rise and the mediatization of its large investments in this sector have led to a growing alarmism about the motivations behind it. Initiated in 2005, this investment trend has led to intense debates about the strategic imperatives behind it, as well as about the why of certain geographic preferences in that investment allocation. This study thus seeks to demarcate the factors that contribute to the growing interest in the E&U sector, while elucidating about those which might be the major geopolitical imperatives, and in last case geo-economic, which support this truly global “arm” of Beijing. Moreover, it attempts to present a clear exposition of the primary geographies for conducting foreign investment and mergers and acquisitions, trying, whenever possible, to expose the rationale behind those preferences. The main findings of this study indicate that the regional surrounding area is the main focus of Chinese foreign investment in the E&U sector, and in the case of mergers and acquisitions, the most developed regions become the main target – this trend seems to be related to the higher possibility of technology and know-how absorption. Regarding motivations, stands out as the main reason the legitimization of the Chinese Communist Party through social consent that results from the economic achievement that carries out the expectations of the population and enhances the robustness of the mechanisms of internal domination and of external dissuasion – i.e. the security-apparatus.

Date of Award	2014
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Carlos Manuel Ferreira dos Santos (Supervisor)