Beijing Boosts Solar In Latest Mixed Signal 中国扩张太阳能行业发展 解决与美争端立场混乱
China really needs to hire someone to advise it on its solar energy policy, as new reports that it will sharply boost its already aggressive program to build new solar power plants is just the latest in a steady string of mixed signals from Beijing amid a looming trade war with Washington. In this latest solar twist, China has reportedly boosted its target for new solar energy generation to 15 gigawatts by 2015, up from a previous target of 10 megawatts that was already considered aggressive. (English article) I’ve said previously that China needs to do more to promote its vibrant stable of solar panel makers, which it has carefully cultivated over the last 5 years and which now account for more than half of the world’s output. To that end, this latest announcement is good news and will undoubtedly be welcome by a battered sector now going through its worst-ever downturn. Reaction to the news was muted on Wall Street, probably because investors are more worried about imminent punitive tariffs that Washington is likely to slap on Chinese solar cells early next year in response to an unfair trade complaint by a group of US solar panel makers. Beijing’s response to the complaint has been all over the map, reflecting a lack of coordination that is hurting chances of resolving this dispute before it does some serious damage to an industry that not only has strong commercial potential but is also of vital interest to major energy consuming nations like the US and China. Beijing’s responses since the dispute broke out have ranged from outrage, with vehement denial of the allegations (previous post); to defiance, with the announcement of its own investigation into dumping by US firms (previous post); to apparent indifference, as it continued to openly support its solar cell makers by giving them the kind of preferential credit that was the source of the original US complaint. (previous post) This latest signal, while probably welcome by Chinese solar panel makers, is just the latest mixed signal. If I were advising Beijing, I would suggest it hire a PR consultant to help it send a message that is at once firm but also conciliatory, showing it doesn’t believe the US allegations but wants to resolve the dispute before it spins out of control and causes serious harm.
Bottom line: China’s new move to boost its use of solar energy is the latest in a string of mixed signals from Beijing, which needs to simplify its message to resolve a trade dispute with the US.
Related postings 相关文章:
◙ China Rescues LDK With New Financing 中国拯救赛维LDK举动与未提供不公补贴说法相左
◙ China Retaliates With Own US Solar Probe 中国启动对美可再生能源补贴调查
◙ Beijing, Yingli Send Mixed Solar Signals 英利和中国政府似乎“背道而驰”
