The Chinese authorities unveiled plans this week to use their boom in renewable energy to power a whole set of ancillary industries. During the 2026-2030 five-year plan period, provinces and power producers will reportedly be pushed to build up local industrial bases to boost the production of green hydrogen, green ammonia, green methanol, and sustainable aviation fuel. The plan also promotes the use of renewable energy to power industrial parks. The measures are aimed at addressing solar curtailment, when solar installations produce more energy than the grid can absorb. (REUTERS)
Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow suggested that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should soften its insistence on internal consensus and non-interference in navigating the tensions between the United States and China. He mentioned the crisis in Myanmar as a case where a more interventionist approach is needed. “Non-interference sometimes becomes an excuse for no action,” he said. He also suggested giving the chair additional power to overcome stalemates, a shift away from consensus-based decision-making. (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST)
