Energy Security Vol 3 – China’s Grand Strategy

By Andrew Pickford

This paper focuses on the emerging trends of China’s future energy security strategy. There are four major trends stemming from China’s future energy security policies. First, unless there is a major shock, China will continue to utilise increasing volumes of imported energy. Second, as its economy transitions and expectations in coastal urban centres evolve, a key priority of Beijing will be to reduce the pollution and negative impact of intensive energy use and heavy industry. Third, energy security will be a key consideration of the national leadership, even if it clashes with other priorities. Fourth, energy infrastructure has a life measured in decades and, once deployed, will influence future energy decisions.

Andrew Pickford is the Director of the Centre’s Indo-Pacific Energy Program.