China’s regional allies have been left stranded amid the ongoing energy crisis in Asia, with Beijing opting to prioritise domestic energy security over regional stability.
Many nations on the continent have been forced to implement energy rationing measures in recent days, with the crisis in the Middle East resulting in a regional oil drought.
Various Asian countries, especially those heavily involved in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, have approached Beijing regarding the crisis in the hope that the regional leader could help remedy the situation.
However, according to Reuters, foreign dignitaries have so far been given the cold shoulder, with many bilateral meetings on the topic of energy being given short, one-line press readouts by Chinese officials that fail to mention the topic was discussed at all.
Efforts by allied nations to lift an emergency Chinese ban on exporting fuel products from the country have also reportedly fallen on deaf ears.
Much of the oil entering mainland Asia enters through Chinese ports, before being shipped to other parts of East and Southeast Asia. China’s ban, reported initially on March 12, has left nations such as Bangladesh, the Philippines and Thailand in less secure positions.
Also impacted are Chinese fertiliser shipments, on which many regional allies of Beijing are reliant on. This is largely due to the fact that almost all modern fertilisers rely on hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon byproducts in their production.
Chinese state media has meanwhile insisted that China is currently energy secure, praising the ruling government for allegedly stockpiling fossil fuels before the current conflict in the Middle East began.
“China National Petroleum Corp, the country’s largest oil and gas producer as well as distributor, is maintaining stable operations through its highly diversified supply chain, effectively mitigating external logistical risks,” an article by English-language outlet China Daily claims.
Receiving up to 80 per cent of its oil from the Middle East, Asia has been at the forefront of rationing efforts since the start of the worldwide energy crisis.
Myanmar has implemented partial bans on private car travel, with vehicles only allowed on public roads on alternate days according to their registration plates.
Similar restrictions have been put in place for publicly-owned vehicles only in South Korea, though Seoul has confirmed that it will expand the restrictions to privately held cars should difficulties continue.
Other countries have opted to create or extend public holidays in an effort to keep people home, with Bangladesh bringing forward Ramadan and Eid celebrations, while Sri Lanka implemented a public holiday on Wednesday to reduce public travel.
Some South Asian countries have also called on citizens to reduce air conditioning use, such as Thailand.
The country has also encoraged citizens to work from home, with Thailand and Vietnam both calling on citizens to avoid the office if possible.