Even before the recent surrounding possible strategic gas supply cuts by Russia, Moscow’s energy plans called for an increase in exports to China. Russia knows that it needs to diversify into new markets as the European Union lowers dependence on its supplies. Meanwhile, China’s demand for gas is growing alongside a perceived need to mitigate .
A pipeline linking Russian gas with China means Moscow is driving ahead with gas exports to China, a move that could allow it to tighten the screws further on EU consumers. Others say it could blow up in Moscow’s face.