Globally, thermal power generation, as a major energy supply, is still widely used in many countries. As a country with important influence in the field of electricity, China has been actively involved in the construction of international coal power plants for some time, especially in some countries with relatively insufficient power supply, such as India and Vietnam. However, in recent years, China's decision to end aid to coal power plants abroad has had an impact not only on China's domestic power situation, but also on energy planning and industrial development in some countries. India and Vietnam, two countries that had ambitions to become the world's factories, faced many challenges because of China's decisions.
Vietnam, an ambitious country, aspires to take its place in the global manufacturing sector. However, its energy supply has been one of the bottlenecks restricting its industrial development. Although Vietnam has suitable climatic conditions for hydroelectric power, the power supply is unstable under the influence of continuous hot weather. In June, Vietnam suffered massive power outages and even had to move factories to other areas. In addition, Vietnam lacks the necessary technology and funds for thermal power generation, especially after China stopped aid, making it more difficult to upgrade the country's power generation capacity.
Similar to Vietnam, India is chasing its dream of becoming the world's manufacturing hub. India's problems, however, are more complex. Not only are there difficulties in power supply, but the quality of its infrastructure construction is unstable, resulting in aging power systems and frequent problems with wire connectors. In this case, even if sufficient power supply is obtained, India faces greater risks due to infrastructure problems. However, China's decision to halt foreign aid has deprived India of opportunities to engage with China in infrastructure construction, further exacerbating India's energy and infrastructure woes.
So why did China make the decision to stop aid to coal plants abroad? China has made great strides in domestic power development and is actively willing to contribute to global energy cooperation. At the same time, however, some countries still have difficulties in terms of technological and developmental conditions, especially countries such as India and Viet Nam. Although China has invested heavily in coal power plants in these countries, the effect has been limited and even caused huge losses to China. In addition, Western countries have questioned the environmental impact of coal plants, and while this is not the main reason for China's decision to stop aid, it does influence China's decision-making to some extent.
Taken together, China's decision to stop aid to overseas coal power plants is not only a weighing of China's own interests, but also a responsibility for the global environment and sustainable development. However, this decision has also had implications for industrial development and energy security in countries such as India and Vietnam, forcing them to re-examine their energy strategies and infrastructure. Ultimately, only with solid technological accumulation, sustainable development planning, and stable infrastructure can these countries take steady steps towards realizing the dream of industrialization.