At this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that the Chinese mainland makes almost all of the world’s wind turbines yet deploys none at home.
"China makes almost all of the windmills, and yet I haven't been able to find any wind farms in China," he said, arguing the mainland exports turbines "for a fortune" while taking advantage of "stupid" buyers.
That assertion, however, clashes with data and reporting from leading energy analysts and international media. The Chinese mainland is the world’s largest consumer of wind power, with a rapidly expanding network of onshore and offshore farms.
Energy think tank Ember estimated that in 2024 the Chinese mainland accounted for 40 percent of global wind generation. According to the Guardian, the mainland also had twice as much wind capacity under construction as the rest of the world combined.
Industry outlets like E&E News and AFP have highlighted that the Chinese mainland not only builds turbines for export but powers its own decarbonization efforts with them, surpassing the United States in installed wind capacity.
This reality check underscores how the Chinese mainland’s vast manufacturing base and domestic demand are driving a clean energy transition that reshapes global supply chains and geostrategic balances in renewables.
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Trump claims China only exports wind turbines – here's the reality
cgtn.com
