China and U.S. advance strategies for energy and mineral security

China and the United States are pursuing divergent strategies to secure energy and resource independence.

China has focused on mitigating the ‘Malacca Dilemma’—the risk of a naval blockade at the Malacca Strait, through which approximately 80% of its maritime imports pass. To reduce vulnerability, Beijing has strengthened its navy, diversified energy sources, increased strategic reserves, and expanded the use of electric vehicles. Unlike some regional neighbors, China has maintained a relatively lower reliance on Middle Eastern oil, importing roughly 60% from the region, while much of its gas arrives from Russia and Australia.

Simultaneously, the United States is advancing an agenda to bolster domestic processing of critical minerals to reduce economic dependence on China. The U.S. administration is working to strengthen internal production chains and has engaged with manufacturing leaders and international partners such as Argentina, Japan, and India. This strategy includes implementing tariffs to favor local extraction and penalizing goods produced with forced labor, aiming to secure national economic security through domestic energy dominance.