China's and India's emerging energy foreign policy

Abstract

"This article aims at analyzing the changing energy foreign policies of the Anchor countries China and India. Both countries' economies are growing at an unprecedented pace. Due to high economic growth based on rapid industrialisation the energy consumption of both countries is rising fast. Against this background it is explored how the quest for energy security has transformed both countries' foreign policies. In fact, energy and, to an increasing extent, climate change, have become defining elements of both countries' foreign policy as well as of the international context in which they find themselves. A new 'energy foreign policy' which transforms the character of existing geopolitical rivalries is emerging. Outside actors such as the European Union must react to these developments when shaping their policy responses. International institutions and governance structures have to adapt to take into account the growing weight of China, India and other emerging economies. Last but not least, energy security and climate change considerations should be merged into an integrated sustainable energy policy." (author's abstract)