Chinese Clean-Energy Foreign Investment Surging, Says Think Tank
(Bloomberg) -- Chinese foreign investment in green power jumped to $80 billion in the past year as Beijing leveraged its dominance in energy transition technologies, according to Climate Energy Finance.
The funds were pledged in the year through November 2025, the Australian-based think tank said in a report released on Sunday, and compare with $100 billion of investment over the previous two years.
US President Donald Trump’s aggressive trade tariffs and shifting geopolitical policies have prompted many developing countries to deepen ties with China, while Washington’s hostility to clean energy has also played into Beijing’s hands. Even before the US’s pullback, China already dominated sectors like wind, solar and electric vehicle batteries.
“The clean-tech economy represents a flourishing form of South-South cooperation, where national development goals meet China’s techno-industrial might,” Caroline Wang, an analyst at CEF, said in the report. “While the US sees China’s rise as a threat, many developing countries are inspired by its success and aim to emulate it.”
Southeast Asia remains the top destination for Chinese clean-technology capital, CEF said, without giving a regional breakdown of the numbers. Major projects include a $6 billion battery plant in Indonesia being jointly developed by Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd., Indonesia Battery Corp., and PT Aneka Tambang. The Middle East and North Africa have emerged as the fastest-growing regions for Chinese investment in the battery and solar sectors, according to the Australian think tank.
Countries are offering various incentives to attract Chinese clean-tech investment – from competitive tax rates to fast-tracked project approvals – with a focus on building local manufacturing capacity, boosting employment, and facilitating joint-venture projects with local partners, Wang said.
On the Wire
More first-time car buyers in China want to buy battery electric vehicles over other types of powertrains, due to their affordability, range of models and improved charging, according to a Bloomberg Intelligence survey.
Mexico’s Congress is set to vote this week on President Claudia Sheinbaum’s proposed tariffs on China, part of a broader plan to shield local producers and ease trade tensions with the US.
As military tensions between China and Japan reach the highest level in more than a decade, the sparsely populated island of Yonaguni finds itself right on the front lines. Up and down the 160-strong Ryukyu island chain, Japan is quickly putting in place missile batteries, radar towers, ammunition storage sites and other combat facilities
This Week’s Diary
(All times Beijing)
Tuesday, Dec. 9:
- China’s agriculture ministry (CASDE) releases monthly report on supply and demand for corn and soybeans
Wednesday, Dec. 10:
- China’s inflation data for November, 09:30am
Thursday, Dec. 11:
- CNPC/Platts annual IEEF summit on oil, gas, energy transition, tech, ESG, Beijing, day 1
Friday, Dec. 12:
- CNPC/Platts annual summit IEEF on oil, gas, energy transition, tech, ESG, Beijing, day 2
- China weekly iron ore port stockpiles
- Shanghai exchange weekly commodities inventory, ~3:30pm local time
©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
