, Columnist
China Is Rewiring the Global South With Clean Power
Faced with energy poverty, costly fossil fuels, and cheap solar, developing economies are voting with their feet.
The energy transition is proceeding apace thanks to China.
Photographer: Christopher Pike/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Energy is destiny.
That’s an under-appreciated rule that applies across history, economics, and diplomacy. The countries with access to the best resources — whether the wind- and peat-powered 17th century Dutch Republic, coal-fired 19th century Britain, or the oil-fueled 20th century US — have always been good at dominating more energy-impoverished rivals.