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A master's thesis from Aalborg University
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An Intricate Nature of China’s Energy Security: A detailed study of Chinese quest to become energy secured

Author

Term

4. term

Publication year

2015

Submitted on

Pages

41

Abstract

Folkerepublikken Kina er nettoimportør af olie, naturgas og kul, og prognoser peger på, at denne afhængighed vil fortsætte og måske blive større, i takt med ønsket om at fastholde den økonomiske vækst, som er vigtig for det regerende partis legitimitet. Mange i Kina ser afhængigheden af udenlandsk energi som en strategisk risiko, præget af historiske erfaringer med ekstern kontrol. Som svar har Kinas Kommunistiske Parti fremmet nationale olieselskaber (NOC’er) – statsstøttede virksomheder, der skal sikre forsyninger på de globale markeder. Indsatserne har dog ikke fuldt ud givet de ønskede resultater af flere årsager, hvilket skaber sårbarheder i landets energisikkerhed. Energisikkerhed (forstået som en pålidelig, overkommelig og sikker energiforsyning) er en voksende global bekymring og en prioritet i Kina, men betydelige udfordringer består. Specialet undersøger, hvorfor Kinas udfordringer med energisikkerhed er særegne, og hvordan forskellige politiske tilgange forsøger at understøtte en hurtigt voksende økonomi og samtidig håndtere eksterne sårbarheder.

The People’s Republic of China is a net importer of oil, natural gas, and coal, and projections suggest this dependence will continue—and may deepen—as the country seeks to sustain economic growth, an important source of the ruling party’s legitimacy. Many in China view reliance on foreign energy as a strategic risk shaped by historical experiences with external control. In response, the Chinese Communist Party has promoted National Oil Companies (NOCs), state-backed firms tasked with securing supplies on global markets. However, these efforts have not fully achieved their aims for several reasons, creating vulnerabilities in the country’s energy security. Energy security (a reliable, affordable, and safe energy supply) is a growing global concern and a priority in China, yet significant obstacles remain. This thesis examines why China’s energy security challenges are distinctive and how different policy approaches aim to support a fast-growing economy while managing external vulnerabilities.

[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]