What the Iran War Means for China's Energy Security

On February 28th, the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on multiple sites in Iran, marking the beginning of a wider military conflict with Iran. Tehran responded with attacks on Israel, US military bases, and US allies across the Middle East and closed the Strait of Hormuz. These events have caused a major disruption in the global supply of oil and gas. China, as the world’s largest energy importer, is exposed to these disruptions, but its long-term energy security strategy has left it better prepared than most.  

How has China approached energy security, and how might the current conflict reshape this strategy? To discuss these issues, we are joined today by Dr. Erica Downs. Erica is a Senior Research Scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. Her research focuses on Chinese energy markets and geopolitics, and she has published extensively on the subject.  

Timestamps
[00:00] Introduction
[01:38] China’s Energy Security Strategy
[03:54] Divergent Approaches to Energy Security in the US and China
[06:03] Beijing’s Response to Supply Chain Shocks
[09:55] Dependencies on Russian Oil & Gas
[12:33] New Lessons for Chinese Policymakers?
[15:30] Impact on Teapot Refineries and Responses
[18:37] Percentage of Chinese Oil and Gas Impacted
[22:26] Could China Buy Gas from the US?
[25:15] Potential Wins and Losses for Chinese Industries