Putting "it" on a possible collosion course

Question

Hi teachers,China is racing to secure Middle East oil deals, putting it on a possible collision course with U.S. interests in the world's most volatile region.Does "it" in the text refer to "China" or the phrase "China is racing to secure Middle East oil deals"?Thank you very much.Tinanam

Cool Breeze · Accepted Answer

It refers to China.

CB

Tinanam0102 · Answer

Hi Cool Breeze,

Thanks again for answering my question.

Could you explan, grammatically, why, isn't "China is racing to secure Middle East oil eals," that "it" refers to?

Tinanam

Cool Breeze · Answer

I can't explain it grammatically. It's just the only interpretation that makes sense to me.

CB

Dimsumexpress · Answer

tinanam0102Thanks again for answering my question.
Could you explain, grammatically, why, isn't "China is racing to secure Middle East oil deals," that "it" refers to?

Tina,
Given the context, "China is racing to secure Middle East oil deals ", it is an act being carried out (by China). The subsequent text....."On the collision course with the US " would be the country that carried out that act, which is China.

To explain it in a cause-and- effect way:

Cause - China's growing economy relies on oil, and for that reason, she is racing to the Middle East to secure the oil deals. (which is in direct conflict of interest with the United States)

Effect - U.S. will possibily be in the collision course with a country which is China
Does that help you ?

Tinanam0102 · Answer

Hi Dimsumexpress,

Thank you for the explanations.

Tinanam

Putting "it" on a possible collosion course

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