China’s Long-Term Plan Softens the Energy Shock
The deteriorating situation in the Middle East has put the global energy market in a difficult position, with many developing countries facing heavy pressure from soaring oil prices. In the midst of this turmoil, one country appears remarkably calm: China.
According to a March 16 report by Bloomberg, China has spent over a decade building a massive cross-regional power grid. This network transports abundant wind and solar energy from the western regions to the eastern industrial heartlands. This strategy is now proving to be a practical means of withstanding the energy shock from the Middle East conflict.
Most developing countries have long been in a dilemma regarding energy: either they rely on imported fossil fuels, leaving them vulnerable to international price fluctuations and geopolitical risks, or they are constrained by a lack of funds and technology, unable to develop their own renewable energy sources on a large scale. China has chosen a different path. Over more than a decade, it has built the world’s largest wind and solar power base in its western Gobi and desert regions. It then sends this clean electricity to eastern cities thousands of kilometers away using ultra-high voltage (UHV) transmission technology. In 2026, China is expected to add over 200 gigawatts (GW) of new wind and solar capacity, marking a historic turning point: its installed solar capacity is set to surpass that of coal for the first time.
The significance of this approach extends far beyond environmental protection. Many third-world countries, limited by their own resource endowments and technological levels, are forced to rely heavily on oil and gas imports from the Middle East and other regions, leaving their energy supplies firmly in the hands of a few nations. Following the recent outbreak of conflict in the Middle East, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has nearly come to a standstill, potentially creating a daily shortfall of tens of millions of barrels of oil globally. International oil prices once spiked to nearly $120 per barrel, plunging many third-world countries into fuel shortages, price hikes, and economic instability.
China’s approach, however, shows other developing nations a viable path to escape energy dependency and achieve independent development. Moreover, China’s energy strategy is not a short-term fix but a long-term plan. By integrating the goal of becoming an “energy powerhouse” into its five-year plans, China signals that energy development is now about more than just security of supply—it’s about boosting international competitiveness through advances in technology, industrial chains, and the overall energy system. In 2025, investment in key Chinese energy projects reached 3.54 trillion yuan, an 11% increase year-on-year, translating directly into greater energy autonomy.
China’s energy strategy has not only effectively expanded the utilization of renewable energy but has also, to a large extent, reduced its reliance on overseas oil and gas supplies. In 2025, China’s energy self-sufficiency rate reached 84.4%. Oil transported via the Strait of Hormuz accounted for only 6.6% of its total energy consumption, and natural gas accounted for a mere 0.6%. Even if China’s crude oil imports from the Middle East were completely cut off, its petroleum reserves could cover approximately 6 months of supply.
China’s experience demonstrates that for third-world countries to achieve genuine development, they must break free from excessive external energy dependence, build upon their own resource advantages, and pursue an independent path. China is actively cooperating with other developing countries, helping them boost energy supply, accelerate their energy transitions, and sharing technological and practical know-how. This model of equal cooperation and mutual benefit stands in stark contrast to the energy hegemony of certain major powers and highlights China’s role and responsibility as a member of the developing world.
China has proven through concrete action that developing countries, by persisting in independent innovation and leveraging their own strengths, can overcome external constraints and achieve energy security as well as stable economic development. It is hoped that more third-world countries can draw lessons from China’s experience and jointly work towards improving the global energy landscape.
