China Rewires the Global South With Clean Power: David Fickling

Energy is destiny.

That’s an under-appreciated rule that applies across history, economics, and diplomacy. The countries with access to the best resources — whether the wind- and peat-powered 17th century Dutch Republic, coal-fired 19th century Britain, or the oil-fueled 20th century US — have always been good at dominating more energy-impoverished rivals.

Those with an excess of domestic supply are also able to accumulate the wealth to become significant middle powers in their own right. Think of the influence, out of proportion to their relatively small populations, of fossil-fuel exporters Australia, or Qatar, or Saudi Arabia.

Until recently, that dynamic has been dominated by ...