Reference News, March 16 report: The U.S. "Washington Post" website published an article titled "Why China Has Become a Winner in the Global Energy Crisis" on March 13. The following is a compilation of the report:
Through vigorous promotion of electric vehicles and investments in coal, renewable energy, and battery storage, the Chinese government has made great efforts to protect its economy from possible oil shortages. Energy experts call China the "Electric Empire," which increasingly relies on domestic power generation rather than foreign fossil fuels for power.
Although China's economy also faces challenges brought about by rising energy costs, the country may ultimately escape this crisis. China's energy investments have made it more resilient to fuel price shocks than countries that have not kept up with the growth and diversification of the energy economy—including the United States and its European allies.
Joshi Freed, director of climate and energy at the U.S. think tank "Third Way," said: "People on X say that the current situation is undermining China's stability, but that's their imagination, not reality. China can withstand this shock and will be in a more favorable position."
Compared to other countries, China's years of steady and continuous investment have given it strong ability to resist energy shocks.
Ben Cahill, director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Systems Analysis at the University of Texas at Austin, said: "China has abundant coal resources and has developed strategies to protect itself from risks associated with imported fossil fuels. They view over-reliance on imported energy as a weakness."
Data from the Columbia University Center on Global Energy Policy shows that electricity accounts for about one-third of China's final energy consumption, nearly 50% higher than the global average. More than one-third of the electricity comes from solar, wind, and hydropower.
China is also leading in the manufacturing and use of electric vehicles, and people in other countries are eager to buy Chinese electric vehicles.
Michael Martin, head of China energy research at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, said: "Looking at everything China has done, you find that it has diversified its risks in a way few other countries have. Its power system is relatively unaffected by these shocks."
China may even find opportunities because it is a more acceptable partner in the field of renewable energy. (Translation by Wenyi)
Original: toutiao.com/article/7617791238221201926/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.