Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney’s speech in Davos marked a new era in how the West talks about itself. One could say he was the first Global North leader to frame the rules-based international order (RIP) in Global South terms:
“We knew the story of the international rules-based order was partially false, that the strongest would exempt themselves when convenient, that trade rules were enforced asymmetrically. And we knew ...
Category: Green Energy
China’s Clean Tech Charm Offensive Wins Global South Hearts and Minds
By Chris Aylett and Bernice Lee Air travellers making the descent into Islamabad, Nairobi, or São Paulo may be struck by the sight of solar panels scattered liberally over the rooftops. Regular visitors to Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital city, will probably have ...
Xpeng in Talks with Malaysia’s EPMB for EV Production in 2026
China's EV maker Xpeng said Friday it is in negotiations to partner with Malaysia’s EP Manufacturing Bhd, or EPMB, to begin mass production of electric vehicles in Malaysia in 2026. The company said it plans to leverage EPMB’s existing capacity ...
China’s $180 Billion Clean Tech Push Reshapes the Global South
Indonesia has become a key test case of China’s clean-energy expansion overseas. A recent report counts about $22.6 billion in Chinese-linked projects have been announced there over the past two years, including EV-parts and solar factories. A flagship ...
How Green Hydrogen Is Opening a New Chapter in China-Latin America Relations
In a global context marked by climate urgency and transition to cleaner energy, green hydrogen—a fuel produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable energy—has emerged as a strategic vector for decarbonization. Unlike solar or wind power, which ...
Reexporting the Revolution: Kyrgyzstan’s Strategic Role in China’s Electric Vehicle Expansion
Like its Central Asian neighbors Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan is rapidly emerging as a major export market for Chinese automakers, both for traditional and electric vehicles. This surge comes amid tightening restrictions in Western markets on Chinese exports, pushing Chinese manufacturers to deepen their presence across Eurasia. ...
Analysis from Cobus van Staden
China Drives Indonesia’s Push for Clean Energy and More Coal
China sits at the heart of Indonesia’s energy paradox — driving the country’s ambitious shift toward renewables while remaining deeply entrenched in its coal economy. Chinese financing and technology are accelerating Indonesia’s clean energy buildout, from nickel refining to electric vehicles ...
Vietnam Now Second in Southeast Asia’s China-Led EV Market
China’s low-priced electric cars are powering Southeast Asia’s EV surge, and Vietnam has emerged as the region’s No. 2 market year-to-date on company-reported figures, closing on Thailand’s lead. The comparison is based on Vietnam’s total, which reflects VinFast deliveries, ...
EU Wants to Displace China as Africa, Asia’s Cleantech Provider
European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU should make green technology a cornerstone of its strategy to counter Chinese influence in the developing world. Speaking at a seminar marking a year since the release of a landmark ...
China $210 billion Clean Tech Pivot: ASEAN Leads, MENA Surges
China's clean tech manufacturers are shifting in 2025 to lighter models: licensing, contract production, and OEM tie-ups, after more than $210 billion in overseas factories since 2022. The Middle East and North Africa surges, but Southeast Asian countries remain the top destination.
Localizing Cautiously: BYD’s Strategic Approach to Kazakhstan’s EV Market
Kazakhstan has long courted electric vehicle makers to localize passenger car production, hoping to follow in Uzbekistan’s footsteps. Yet the real breakthrough may come from a different direction. Chinese electric vehicle manufacturing giant BYD’s plan to start with buses—rather than cars—marks a subtle but ...
China EVs: BYD Leads Indonesia in August 2025, Market Down
China’s BYD led among Chinese EV brands in Indonesia in August with 2,562 wholesale units as the overall car market fell year on year. Aion finished ahead of Denza, sharpening competition among Chinese marques under Indonesia’s EV tax breaks. Indonesia’s ...
China’s Solar Expansion in Indonesia Still Relies on Coal
In West Java, a province just east of Jakarta, Indonesia, a sprawling industrial park is rising. Backed by Chinese cement giant Hongshi Holding Group, the $5 billion complex promises to produce the solar panels and batteries that the world desperately needs to combat climate change.