China: Releasing Gasoline, Diesel From Reserves -- October 31, 2021

Something they probably wouldn't do if preparing for any major armed conflict. 

Link here.

If anyone can identify a better twitter feed for breaking news in global oil and gas than Giovanni Staunovo, let me know.

President Xi has not left China in twenty-one months; Covid is only part of the reason. Link here.

Mr. Xi’s recent absence from the global stage has complicated China’s ambition to position itself as an alternative to American leadership. And it has coincided with, some say contributed to, a sharp deterioration in the country’s relations with much of the rest of the world. 

Instead, China has turned inward, with officials preoccupied with protecting Mr. Xi’s health and internal political machinations, including a Communist Party congress next year where he is expected to claim another five years as the country’s leader. As a result, face-to-face diplomacy is a lower priority than it was in Mr. Xi’s first years in office.