The Hormuz Crisis and China’s Energy Security Dilemma

Despite sustained efforts to prioritize energy security across successive policy cycles, China remains exposed to external supply chains it does not control. The core problem is not simply import dependence, but reliance on maritime transit routes – particularly through the Strait of Hormuz – whose security ultimately lies beyond Beijing’s authority. The escalation of the Israel-U.S. war with Iran and the resulting disruption of traffic through Hormuz has transformed a long-recognized strategic risk into an immediate constraint, revealing the limits of China’s ability to ensure stable energy access under conditions of geopolitical contestation.

Photo by CENTCOM

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