Energy security in China: The impact of domestic policies and reforms

Abstract

This study applies both quantitative and qualitative analyses to the energy policies and energy security situation in China between 1980 and 2010. Two primary objectives are achieved in this study. The first objective is to examine how the energy security situation in China has evolved in the past 30 years. This study establishes a quantitative framework that shows that China's energy security situation has not improved during the economic reform. The second objective of the study is to explore qualitatively why the energy security situation has not improved. To answer the "why" question, the study opens up a new perspective by analysing the relationship between energy security and energy policies from the macroeconomic reform perspective. This study discusses major reforms that took place over 30 years. It finds that China's macroeconomic reform has restricted the formation of China's energy policies and determined its energy security situation. In essence, China's energy policies were only a reaction to the macroeconomic measures. They were not originally intended to improve energy security, but were passive reactions to China's macroeconomic reform. This explains why China did not improve its energy security situation despite 30 years of reform. © 2014 WIT Press.