China's External Energy Security: Energy Trade and Investment Along the 'Belt and Road' An Introduction

As the world's largest energy consumer, China's energy security policies have significant implications for global, regional and national energy governance. However, the legal dimension of China's external energy security remains understudied, with most attention in the energy law literature focused on EU and US energy security. This Special Issue studies the legal aspects of Chinese external energy cooperation by focusing on energy trade and investment under the 'Belt and Road Initiative' - the Chinese foreign policy concept aiming to promote regional and global economic integration through infrastructure interconnectivity. Three research questions govern the Special Issue. How does China's external energy policy rely on, and impact on, regional and global energy market governance? How does China seek to protect its foreign energy investments? How does China's external energy policy impact on host countries' energy and investment laws?