China, the World's Factory, Announces First Greenhouse Gas Reduction...Is It a "Green Scam"? [Current Affairs Show]

China Announces First-Ever 7-10% Reduction Target
Contrasts With Trump's "Green Scam" Remarks
Northeast Asian Nuclear Defense Enters a New Phase

■ Broadcast: The Asia Business Daily 'So Jongseop's Current Affairs Show'

■ Host: Political Specialist So Jongseop

■ Director: Producer Lee Miri

■ Guest: Reporter Lee Hyunwoo

China, known as the "world's factory" and the largest emitter of greenhouse gases globally, has officially announced its emission reduction targets for the first time, drawing significant attention from the international community. While this move reflects an awareness of the seriousness of greenhouse gases, some analysts believe it will also serve as a strategic card for China amid the current international climate. As China is expected to build a large number of nuclear power plants along its eastern coast under the pretext of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, there are growing concerns that this will usher in a new phase in Northeast Asia's nuclear security landscape.

China Announces 7-10% Greenhouse Gas Reduction... Emphasizes Realistic Targets

On the 24th of last month (local time), Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the United Nations Climate Summit via video conference and delivered a speech. Photo by Xinhua News Agency

On the 24th of last month (local time), at the United Nations Climate Summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China would reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 7% to 10% by 2035. The announcement itself was highly unusual and attracted considerable attention. The significance was even greater because it came at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump referred to global warming and climate change as a "Green Scam" during the same summit. China is seen as signaling its intention to take a more leading role in global leadership, while undermining U.S. leadership.

The previous Joe Biden administration in the United States had set an ambitious target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030. However, President Trump scrapped these reduction plans as soon as he took office. In this context, the Chinese government's declaration of a 7% to 10% reduction stands in stark contrast to President Trump.

However, while the international community finds China's 7-10% reduction announcement encouraging, some voices argue that if it is only a declarative announcement, the target should be at least 30%. Nonetheless, it is analyzed that the Chinese government proposed a lower figure to emphasize credibility and to commit only to what is realistically achievable.

In practical terms, China's total greenhouse gas emissions are about twice that of the United States, so a 10% reduction by China would have almost the same effect as a 20% reduction by the United States. Therefore, some analysts argue that 10% is not a small figure. Furthermore, the Chinese government is actively working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions because domestic environmental issues are directly linked to public welfare. China was one of the countries most affected by various natural disasters this year. Typhoons, floods, and droughts have continuously struck different regions, and air quality in major urban areas remains poor. Thus, there is a real need for China to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Since last year, the Chinese government has strongly pushed for the adoption of renewable energy sources such as electric vehicles, solar, wind, and nuclear power. As a result, China succeeded in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by about 1.6% last year, according to some reports. Given the government's strong commitment, there is speculation that the 7-10% target will likely be achieved.

Trump's 'Green Scam' Remarks: A Check on China's Growing Influence at the UN

On the 24th (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump delivering a speech at the United Nations General Assembly. Photo by AP News Agency

Some analysts believe President Trump's "Green Scam" remark was less a criticism of climate change itself and more a critique of the current United Nations system. President Trump has repeatedly criticized the UN for failing to mediate conflicts such as the war in Ukraine and the Middle East, despite receiving massive funding. He has also sought to check China's growing influence within various UN organizations.

With the Trump administration drastically cutting U.S. contributions to the UN, it is reported that China has become the largest donor to many UN agencies. In the United States, there are even claims that the UN is useless. In the case of the Ukraine war, China and Russia, both permanent members of the Security Council, have consistently blocked UN-level sanctions against Russia. The UN has been criticized for failing to play any meaningful role. Even during the Biden administration, there were calls to expel China and Russia from the UN or for Western countries to create an alternative organization.

The Trump administration went further, calling the UN itself useless and labeling climate change a "Green Scam." The criticism is that the UN has collected international funds under the pretext of noble causes, but there is little transparency or accountability regarding where the money is spent. The UN has consistently received low marks for financial management and transparency. As a result, from the Trump administration's perspective, the UN is seen as a stage for China to engage in so-called "Green Washing"-using environmental issues to improve its image.

China is known to take climate issues even more seriously than the United States. With its massive population and a significant portion still living in poverty, the Chinese government faces the risk that climate change could devastate domestic agriculture, which could in turn threaten regime stability. This is why China is highly attentive to climate change issues.

Many recent papers published by China's National Natural Science Foundation have focused on climate change. Some studies warn that if greenhouse gas emissions continue and global warming worsens, China's arable land could decrease by 35% by 2100. The Chinese leadership is deeply concerned that such a sharp decline in farmland could lead to political instability.

Historically, China has experienced major internal upheavals and regime changes whenever climate fluctuations drastically reduced arable land, so the government is extremely sensitive to this issue. While the land area of China and the United States is similar, China's population exceeds 1.4 billion compared to about 300 million in the United States, leading to fundamentally different attitudes toward climate disasters and food shortages. The rural-urban and wealth gaps in China further heighten the government's sense of urgency regarding internal instability caused by climate change.

Increase in Chinese Nuclear Power Plants Under the Pretext of Emission Reductions... Negative Impact on Northeast Asia's Nuclear Security

AP Yonhap News

Some are raising concerns about China's rapid expansion of nuclear power plants under the pretext of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In the event of an accident, radioactive contamination could flow into the West Sea and have a significant impact on South Korea. Additionally, plutonium produced by these nuclear plants could greatly enhance China's nuclear warhead production capabilities.

China currently operates about 56 nuclear power plants and has announced plans to build around 100 more by 2035, bringing the total to over 150. There are already 29 plants under construction. Since most of China's major cities are located along the eastern coast, nuclear plants are also being concentrated in these areas.

As a result, there is growing anxiety that any accident at these sites could send radioactive contamination directly toward South Korea's western coast. During the Fukushima nuclear accident, there were significant concerns about the release of contaminated water, but at least those plants faced the Pacific Ocean. In contrast, if contaminated water is released from Chinese nuclear plants, it would all flow into the West Sea, heightening the risk.

Another concern is that the plutonium produced by these nuclear plants can be converted into nuclear weapons. China is currently estimated to possess about 600 nuclear warheads and is thought to be producing around 100 more each year. If the number of nuclear plants increases significantly, production capacity could rise even further. The United States and the international community are concerned that the issue of greenhouse gas reduction could serve as a pretext for expanding nuclear power, which in turn could facilitate the accumulation of plutonium for military purposes.

This is expected to have a significant impact not only on South Korea's security but also on nuclear security in Northeast Asia and around the world. Therefore, analysts argue that changes in China's energy policy should not be viewed solely from an environmental perspective but must also be considered from a security standpoint. Beyond environmental and strategic implications, China's nuclear power expansion is being closely watched in terms of its potential impact on weapons and national defense.