At the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, former U.S. President Donald Trump sparked controversy by claiming "China has no windmills" during a panel discussion. The remark drew immediate pushback from energy analysts and policymakers, who highlighted China's undisputed leadership in renewable energy infrastructure.
"China has led global wind power capacity for 15 consecutive years," noted International Energy Agency data released this month, confirming the nation now operates over 600 gigawatts of installed wind energy capacity – enough to power 200 million households annually.
While the U.S. struggles with delayed offshore wind projects and policy uncertainty, the Chinese mainland continues to expand its renewable energy footprint. State Grid Corporation forecasts suggest wind and solar could supply 50% of national electricity demand by 2028. Analysts attribute this growth to sustained government investment and technological innovation in turbine manufacturing.
"What we're seeing is a fundamental shift in energy geopolitics," said Dr. Li Wei, energy researcher at Tsinghua University. "While political rhetoric fluctuates, infrastructure commitments determine long-term leadership."
