Oil Could Hit $400 a Barrel by 2018

US military analysts looking at trends that will affect the relationship between America and China believe they see clear signs of future trouble

Although now retired from the US military (he is currently CEO and chairman of private-equity group AEA Holdings and managing director of AEA Investors, a board member at Daimler Chrysler and Wipro, and former CEO of Nortel), Admiral Owens has been behind a recent, informal dialogue among senior retired military officers from the US and China.

Admiral Owens says one trend that can be safely extrapolated is the growth of the middle class in China and many other emerging markets. The demographics suggest these middle classes are entering a 15-year boom, which is great for many businesses but will incur environmental costs and change military relationships.

Business Week