Location: The Heritage Foundation's Lehrman Auditorium

As China has liberalized its economy and entered the global marketplace, its relationship with the Untied States has improved markedly.  While America will continue to turn to Saudi Arabia and the Middle East to meet its energy demands, the growth of Chinese energy requirements ensures that the Middle East will become a focal point of this complex triangle.  In his new book, The Vital Triangle: China, The United States, and the Middle East, Jon Alterman explores the complex interrelationships among these actors, concluding that managing the evolving interests of all three parties will be vital for global security.