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Alba Otero
Writer“Observe, listen, and reflect” is my journalistic mantra. This philosophy guides me daily and ensures I produce quality journalism. My restlessness has led me explore new areas, such as sustainability and the energy transition, which are crucial to our future. In addition, I’ve also dabbled in street photography, an art that allows me to capture the essence of journalism in action.
Karen Alfaro
WriterCommunications professional with a decade of experience as a copywriter, proofreader, and editor. As a travel and science journalist, I've collaborated with several print and digital outlets around the world. I'm passionate about culture, music, food, history, and innovative technologies.
China recently completed the deepest vertical oil well in Aisa, reaching 35,790 feet. At first glance, it may seem like just another milestone in the race to build mega-structures. But it signals something bigger: a strategy to strengthen energy security and reduce reliance on foreign oil.
Record after record. In March 2025, China hit a new oil production peak, averaging 4.6 million barrels per day, according to data cited by the Global Times. This figure marks the culmination of a long-simmering trend. Despite market volatility—including the tariff war—Chinese production has continued rising in a steady and deliberate manner.
“Drill, baby, drill!” That well-known slogan, once tied to President Donald Trump, could just as easily apply to China. But what’s happening in the world’s second-largest economy looks very different. As energy analyst Javier Blas notes, Beijing is betting on squeezing its aging conventional oil fields, many of which date back to the Mao era. While the U.S. pushes fracking and horizontal shale drilling based on profitability, China pursues energy security.
State-owned giants—China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Sinopec, and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC)—have each invested about $80 billion annually to support this effort.
Though China remains a major oil importer, the scale of its reserves wasn’t clear until recently. According to Reuters, the country has now achieved a replacement ratio of 167%. CNOOC reports its proven reserves exceed 7.27 billion barrels, enough to ensure stable output for the next decade.
An inward strategy. This year marks the start of China’s push for greater energy autonomy with its “Seven-Year Action Plan to Enhance Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Efforts.” The goal isn’t just to increase production—it’s to reduce dependency on foreign suppliers and limit exposure to global geopolitical shocks.
Changing partners. For now, China still imports oil—but it has shifted partners. Chinese refiners now import record volumes of Canadian crude after slashing U.S. oil purchases by 90% due to trade tensions. As Bloomberg reports, an expanded pipeline in western Canada—opened less than a year ago—has given China and other East Asian buyers better access to Alberta’s vast tar sands reserves.
Beyond its borders. The energy strategy of China doesn’t unfold in isolation—it reshapes the global oil landscape. Greater self-sufficiency weakens the leverage of major exporters like Saudi Arabia and Iraq and puts more strain on OPEC+ as it tries to stabilize prices.
As China boosts domestic output, it becomes more selective and strategic about imports—reshaping trade flows and influencing global oil prices. This approach also gives Beijing more flexibility in responding to geopolitical tensions without risking its energy supply.
In short, it’s sending a clear message: every barrel counts. While the world watches the Middle East or Texas, the real quiet boom is happening in Asia.
Image | Huichao Ji (Unsplash) | Zbynek Burival (Unsplash)
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