Chinese independent oil companies are increasingly entering Iraq's oil market, which has traditionally been dominated by major international firms. This development reflects a growing presence of China's private oil sector in a region long controlled by established global oil majors. In addition to expanding their footprint in Iraq's oil industry, Chinese enterprises have secured a USD 2.5 billion contract for a seawater pipeline project as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiatives within Iraq. These moves indicate China's strategic efforts to deepen its involvement in Iraq's energy infrastructure and oil production landscape.