China’s Quest for Energy Security

China’s two decades of rapid economic growth have fueled a demand for energy that has outstripped domestic sources of supply. China became a net oil importer in 1993, and the country’s dependence on energy imports is expected to continue to grow over the next 20 years, when it is likely to import some 60 percent of its oil and at least 30 percent of its natural gas. China, thus, has to abandon its traditional goal of energy self-sufficiency - brought about by a fear of strategic vulnerability - and look abroad for resources. This study looks at the measures that China is taking to achieve energy security and the motivations behind those measures.