Presentation short abstract

This paper analyzes China’s growing influence over Southeast Asia’s cross-border electricity grid. It examines two avenues of influence: China's engagement with ASEAN policymakers, and China's operation of transmission lines in Laos.

Presentation long abstract

This paper analyzes China’s growing influence over Southeast Asia’s evolving energy infrastructure, particularly in the development of a fully integrated, cross-border electricity grid. ASEAN has long pursued regional grid integration as a means of enhancing energy security, improving efficiency, and facilitating the transition to renewable energy. Recently, this goal has gained new momentum as countries seek to link areas rich in renewable resources, such as hydropower in Laos and solar potential in Cambodia, with major demand centers in industrialized nations like Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore. However, while regional energy integration is framed as a step toward sustainability, the structure and governance of this emerging grid raise important geopolitical concerns - particularly regarding China’s outsized role in shaping its development.

China, with its own vast and technologically advanced power network, is playing a central role in ASEAN’s grid ambitions by providing both technical expertise and financial backing. This paper examines two primary avenues through which China exerts influence: first, through the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization’s engagement with ASEAN policymakers; and second, through the China Southern Power Grid’s acquisition of Laos’ national transmission assets. Preliminary findings suggest that China’s involvement is facilitating the development of large-scale energy projects geared toward export, particularly hydropower, in which Chinese firms are key investors. However, the long-term benefits of this model for Southeast Asian host countries remain uncertain, raising questions about energy sovereignty, financial dependency, and the balance between regional sustainability goals and China’s strategic interests.