China’s Edge in an Oil Shock: Electric Cars and Renewables

This news article reports on how China’s investment in electric cars and renewables has helped to shield it from some of the impacts of the current oil price shocks caused by the conflict in the middle east. The article features quotes from Mathias Larsen who explains that energy security and economic growth are the key reasons behind China’s push for renewables, beginning over two decades ago. At that point, China was concerned about the Malacca Strait, but the same concern is now seen in how China has used renewables to reduce its energy problem from the Hormuz Strait blockage.

New York Times, 14 March 2026