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Opinion | In China’s pragmatic energy security vision, fossil fuels remain vital
By preserving a diversified energy mix, Beijing is prioritising redundancy over an idealised, rapid transformation
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Energy security is once again at the very heart of the global geopolitical arena. In an era defined by conflict, sanctions and increasingly precarious maritime routes, Beijing has internalised a fundamental truth: in an unstable world, resilience trumps ideology.
Recent disruptions to global shipping corridors and tightening sanction regimes have reinforced this shift, pushing major economies to reassess their exposure to external supply shocks.
While much of the West remains locked in a debate over the pace of the energy transition, China is quietly forging a multilayered “energy shield”, designed not to choose between old and new systems, but to immunise its economy against external shocks and price turbulence.
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The 2025 production figures tell a story of strategic intent. China’s oil and gas output reached record highs last year, driven by rapid growth in offshore extraction and unconventional shale resources. This reflects sustained policy support aimed at strengthening domestic supply capacity.
Every barrel pumped at home is one that does not have to navigate a contested strait or fall prey to the volatility of global markets. While domestic supply cannot yet achieve total self-sufficiency, it provides a critical strategic buffer, ensuring geopolitical friction abroad does not easily translate into industrial disruption at home.
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At the same time, China has not retreated from global energy markets. Instead, it is managing its exposure more actively. The allocation of crude import quotas to refiners shows how Beijing continues to shape the flow of oil into the country. These quotas are more than administrative details; they are instruments through which the government can influence stock building, refinery utilisation and the balance between domestic and imported supply.
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