ANALYSIS-China oil deals flow where politics less involved

* Deals easier where politics takes a back seat

* Addax buy to give Sinopec much-needed upstream assets

* Deal helped by Addax shareholder, Africa asset base

By Joseph Chaney and Sui-Lee Wee

HONG KONG, June 25 (Reuters) - Sinopec's $7.2 billion bid for oil explorer Addax Petroleum (AXC.TO) is a sign that China's energy giants find it easier to secure reserves in parts of the world where there are fewer hang-ups about Beijing owning local natural resources.

Africa and the Middle East, where Swiss-based Addax has its main assets, are more politically disposed to China than are developed nations such as the United States, where local politicians blocked CNOOC's (CEO.N) $18.5 billion bid for oil company Unocal in 2005, analysts say.

Earlier this month, Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto (RIO.AX)(RIO.L) rejected a $19.5 billion tie-up with China's state-owned Chinalco -- a deal that had triggered political and shareholder opposition.

"At the end of the day, they may wonder whether it's a waste of time going after targets in the developed world," said Macquarie analyst David Johnson.