China's energy system, despite being the world's largest in electricity production, renewable technologies, and EV markets, exhibits a critical paradox: increased vulnerability to external energy shocks. Over 70 percent of its oil consumption, significant natural gas supplies, and expanding nuclear sector uranium depend on foreign imports. The Hormuz crisis starkly exposed this reliance on external energy resources and supply chains beyond Beijing's control.
When confronted with such shocks, China consistently reverts to its vast domestic coal reserves as a primary energy security insurance policy. This overarching strategy, encompassing issues from Russian natural gas to Middle Eastern oil and Kazakh uranium, reveals a persistent effort to reduce strategic vulnerability in an unstable global environment. Contrary to Western interpretations, China's energy policy prioritizes security over the energy transition, focusing on securing reliable, affordable, and politically resilient supplies to sustain its long-term development.
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