Analysis On Structural Characteristics And Impact Factors Of Energy Trade Network Between China And ASEAN

Energy security is crucial to sustainable development.With the rapid socio-economic development and increase in extreme weather events caused by climate change,China is facing a severe situation in energy supply security.To ensure energy security,China is now actively participating in energy cooperation under initiative “The Belt and Road”,to expand energy supply channels and vigorously develop energy trade.ASEAN countries with rich energy resources play an important part under initiative “The Belt and Road”,which makes them important partners in energy trade of China.Even though energy trade among China and ASEAN countries accounts for a small proportion of China's total energy trade,energy trade with ASEAN countries strategically prevents excessive concentration of energy supply and avoids risk of energy supply,in addition to this,with establishment of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area and development of energy cooperation under initiative "The Belt and Road",there may come a turning point for energy trade among China and ASEAN countries.Consequently,it's of great significance to explore characteristics of energy trade among China and ASEAN countries and China's position in energy trade,and to examine changes of characteristics and China's position of energy trade among China and ASEAN countries,and to study impact factors of characteristics of energy trade network.With ideas mentioned above,we're able to recognize situation of energy trade among China and ASEAN countries,thus helping to strengthen interconnection construction with ASEAN countries,deepen cooperation on energy trade and alleviate threat to China's energy security.By constructing trade networks for oil,gas and coal among China and ASEAN countries respectively,this study employs Social Network Method to examine characteristics and changes of energy trade network for China and ASEAN countries in period of 2000 to 2015,and QAP regression analysis is used to explore impact factors for energy trade network for China and ASEAN countries.Some findings are as follows: number of participating countries in three energy trade networks has remained above 8 for a long time,and has kept rising generally;China,Singapore,Malaysia and Thailand are prominent in three energy trade networks,and China has an overall advantage in all energy trade networks;heterogeneities of three energy trade networks differ a lot,and heterogeneities of export networks are generally stronger than those of imported networks;core-periphery structures of three trade networks also vary a lot,and China's position is even more prominent in oil and coal networks;factors such as gap in GDP,geographical distance between national capitals,land adjacency,and difference of alternative energy and nuclear energy,all have profound impacts on energy trade among ASEAN countries.According to findings above,some advice is given as follows: increase energy supply channels,make use of processing ability for energy products;adjust structure of energy consumption and expand proportion of clean alternative energy;encourage energy companies to “go out”,and strengthen energy investment in Southeast Asia countries;establish and improve institutional frameworks and coordination mechanisms for energy trade among China and ASEAN countries.