Chinese state-owned companies are investing billions of dollars near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest oil transitways. Some Western interests fear that China’s buildup could lay the groundwork for a future military presence in the region. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down why China’s commercial investment in the Middle East is causing national security worries for the U.S. Plus, a California lawmaker is restarting an effort to expand the state’s participation in the western regional energy grid.   Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO.  Ben Lefebvre is an energy reporter for POLITICO.  Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer. Raghu Manavalan is a senior editor for POLITICO audio. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO’s audio department. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices