China’s Energy Security and Strategy in Xi Jinping Period (2012-2016)
Date Issued
2016
Date
2016
Author(s)
Yuan, Wei-Cheng
Abstract
The energy security has been an important part of China national security. This paper adopts the security research approach, documentary analysis and the theory of comprehensive security to conduct the research on the China’s energy security in the Xi Jinping period. The paper raises three research questions: First, what is the energy security dilemma that China was facing with in the Xi Jinping period? Second, what are China’s energy strategy decision mechanism and the energy strategy in the Xi Jinping period? Third, what are the China’s energy strategy practice and its meaning in the Xi Jinping period? By the above research questions, the research attempted to clarify the meaning of the China’s energy security and the energy strategy in Xi Jinping period. About the dilemma of the China''s energy security: First, the China’s energy structure which is dominated by coal leads to the three high economic problems. Second, China’s oil and gas energy highly depends on the imports, and the main area of oil and gas importation is facing the political risks. Third, the route of the China’s energy importation highly relies on the sea transportation, especially the Malacca routes. Fourth, the Chinese state-owned energy enterprises are dominated by the specific political factions and face the serious corruption problems. Fifth, China''s strategic oil reserve is still lower than the IEA’s recommendation of 90 days of the net imports. Sixth, China is facing the serious environmental problems caused by the energy. As for the aspects of the China’s energy strategy decision mechanism and the energy strategic approach: Before Xi Jinping took office in 2012, the decision place of the China’s energy strategy is mainly in the State Council, and it is constituted by National Energy Commission, National Energy Commission Office and National Energy Administration these three levels. After Xi Jinping assumed office, 3rd Plenary Session of 18th CPC passed a resolution to establish The Central National Security Commission and The Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reforms which are related to the energy strategy decision under the central of CPC. China Energy Strategy’s highest decision-making field has gradually shifted from the State Council of the CPC to the central of CPC. On the other hand, Xi Jinping emphasized that the energy security is a matter of national global and strategic issue, so Xi Jinping’s energy strategy involves a number of fields such as political, economic, diplomatic, military, strategic oil reserves, and environment. As for the China’s energy security approach and the meaning: The economic aspect is to promote the transformation of the energy structure and the economic structure through the evolution of the energy. The diplomatic aspect is to deepen the foreign energy cooperation and take forward the overland energy cooperation through the national strategies such as One Belt and One Road and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. The military aspect is to develop the naval and air force and take forward the military layout in the South China Sea and Africa area under the strategic approach of the oceanic great power. The political aspect is to combat the oil clique and the corruption of the state-owned energy enterprises. Security of the oil reserves is to establish the oil reserve system. Environmental safety is to develop the non-fossil energy. To summarize the performance of the China’s energy strategy in the Xi Jinping period, except the political-oriented performance is more notable, other aspects are still relatively at the initial stage. Basically China''s energy security is still at a disadvantage in the Xi Jinping preliminary governing. However, as the rapid growth of China''s national strength and Xi Jinping''s attention to the energy security, it can be expected that China will adopt a more active and comprehensive energy strategy approach to improve the disadvantaged situation of China''s energy security.
Subjects
CHINA
XI JINPING PERIOD
ENERGY SECURITY
ENERGY DECISION-MAKING SYSTEM
ENERGY STRATEGY
Type
thesis