By Christian Shepherd and Jinpeng Li, Washington Post
China’s takeover of nearly every technology needed for the green energy revolution happened gradually — then all at once.
China now eclipses every other country when it comes to installations of wind and solar power, a striking transformation from 15 years ago. It was fueled by a gold rush of entrepreneurship and unwavering government support, including through hundreds of billions of dollars in subsidies.
In the race to master technologies of the future, green energy is one arena where many analysts agree that China has pulled ahead of the United States in almost every key area, from electric vehicles to solar panels.
That gap is likely to widen under President Donald Trump, analysts say. As Trump focuses on boosting fossil fuel production and cutting funding for clean energy projects, China is further increasing investment in renewable energy technologies.
“It is difficult to overstate China’s singular lead across clean energy technologies. The gaps are both enormous and historically unprecedented,” said Milo McBride, fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a think tank.
Recent policies in the United States, Europe and India to support green industries have created a handful of competitors, he said, but the fundamental dynamic has not changed. “To abate China’s lead across everything is going to cost a lot of money, and it’s going to be difficult,” McBride said.
How China, the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitter by far, manages this newfound influence over the energies of tomorrow will have far-reaching ramifications for global politics, trade and the fight against climate change.
With a climate-skeptic president in the White House, Beijing sees an opportunity to cement its commanding lead and fulfill one of Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s key goals: to surpass the United States and European nations in advanced technologies.
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