China's Alternative Energy Sprint May Partly Shield It From Trump's Mideast Oil Shock

It's Day 30 of the U.S.-Iran conflict, with President Trump telling the Financial Times overnight that he wants to "take the oil in Iran" and is open to seizing Kharg Island. These comments come as the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted, threatening a maritime chokepoint that carries roughly 20% of global crude and LNG flows. With much of the tanker traffic to Asia disrupted, the region is now facing the worst energy shock ever recorded.

Earlier this month, Zoltan Pozsar's advisory firm, Ex Uno Plures, penned a note detailing that the Trump administration is "methodically building a portfolio of assets" to pressure China, centered on strategic energy supply nodes and maritime chokepoints that have historically supported Beijing's cheap crude imports. The note highlights the Panama Canal, Venezuelan oil flows, and the broader significance of Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.