Chinese investments in the Philippine Grid (2021-2023)

PrincipaI investigator
Dr. Laurence L. DELINA

Collaborator
Assoc. Prof. Akihisa MORI (Kyoto University, Japan)

Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr Nicolo Paolo LUDOVICE

Postgraduate student
Mr. Tim HENARES (Fall 2021-Spring 2022, transferred to another supervisor)

Student assistants
Mr. Martin HUNG (Fall 2022)
Mr. Zakk RATTANAMANEEJARAT (Fall 2022)
Ms. Phoebe YEUNG (Fall 2022)
Mr. Marcus YU (Fall 2022)
Ms. Ocean YUEN (Fall 2022)

Examining China’s forays into the Philippine grid is of paramount importance, especially at the current juncture where China is asserting its prominence as a significant global investor in electricity grids. Of particular interest is the appraisal of how these investments resonate within the recipient nations, in this instance, the Philippines. Additionally, our focus extends to the intricate dynamics of harmonizing renewable energy generation with the critical aspects of transmission and distribution, probing into the efficacy of such synergy.

The project endeavours to illuminate whether these Chinese investments in the Philippine grid pivot towards fostering carbon neutrality or, conversely, serve as a means of bolstering Chinese control over these foundational infrastructures. In essence, this project encapsulates profound implications, not solely confined to the realm of international relations, but also reverberating across the landscape of climate policy. Through comprehensive inquiry, this project strives to unravel the complex intricacies that underscore China’s involvement in the Philippine grid, deciphering its multifaceted objectives and discerning its overarching impact on both sustainable development and global geopolitical dynamics.