As the US Backtracks on Renewables, SE Asia Turns to China
Beijing has quietly become the dominant outside funder of clean energy across Southeast Asia amidst a retreat from clean energy financing by Washington. Belt and Road green energy commitments across Southeast Asia reached nearly $10 billion in the opening six months of 2025, bringing around 11.9 gigawatts of wind, solar, and waste-to-energy capacity online. A large portion of this investment came from China, with the Asian economic and manufacturing giant providing capital, hardware, and construction crews at a time when alternatives have thinned considerably. Under Trump, billions in climate commitments were canceled, cutting funds to international programs including the Green…
