Energy now a focusEnergy now a focus of US-China contest of the century
An opinion piece published by the South China Morning Post on June 5, 2026 argues that energy has become a central front in the US-China rivalry.
It says China is building influence as an “electrostate” while the United States tries to preserve its edge as a hydrocarbon power, making energy supply and control a strategic issue in the wider contest between the two countries.
- China is the world’s largest producer of solar panels and electric vehicles.
- Oil and gas remain crucial to global shipping, military logistics, and industrial production.
- Energy competition often shapes alliances because supply chains cross borders and depend on critical minerals.
US-China Indo-Pacific Rivalry
China and Taiwan coast guard vessels have repeatedly faced off near the Pratas Islands, with the latest standoff showing how small maritime incidents around Taiwan can quickly become confrontations.[1][5] The episode adds to wider U.S.-China military tension across the Indo-Pacific, where Beijing is expanding patrols and Washington is reinforcing regional deterrence.[2][3] The rivalry now centers on preventing miscalculation around Taiwan, the South China Sea, and nearby sea lanes.[1][3][5] It also shapes defense planning by Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States as all sides weigh coercion, sovereignty claims, and the risk of escalation.[2][3]
24 May, 07:39 AM
Taiwan and China coast guards face off near Pratas islands1 January
The United States adopts a sharper great-power competition strategy focused on China
