WASHINGTON (March 26, 2026) – The U.S.-Israel war against Iran has disrupted fossil fuel supplies from the Middle East, causing oil prices to go as high as $119 a barrel. As the gasoline cost surges, China’s electric vehicle (EV) industry is gaining momentum.
With Chinese EVs becoming more affordable and gasoline getting more expensive, analysts predict the current energy crisis will accelerate China’s global expansion, especially among Asian nations also dealing with the effects of the fuel shortage. Because China sources more than 40% of its oil from the Middle East, the shift towards renewable energy is starting to pay off. China is now positioned as a key player in the transition away from fossil fuel.
For more analysis on this development, please consider Robert Sutter, a professor of practice of international affairs at the Elliott School of International Affairs. Sutter is an expert on U.S.-China relations, China’s rise-domestic and international implications, Chinese foreign relations, contemporary U.S. policy toward Asia and the Pacific, and political, security and economic development in Asia and the Pacific.
To schedule an interview, please contact Nadia Payne at nadia [dot] payne
gwu [dot] edu (nadia[dot]payne[at]gwu[dot]edu) or GW media at gwmediagwu [dot] edu (gwmedia[at]gwu[dot]edu).
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