TOKYO -- When the first natural gas pipeline from Russia to China was completed last week, the physical link was celebrated by live telecast virtually connecting Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
At first glance, state-backed utility Gazprom's Power of Siberia pipeline appears to be a win for Putin's energy diplomacy. Russia, the world's top gas exporter, hopes to use the project to strengthen relations with energy-hungry China.
