> China can continue to rely on coal for energy independence also.

At the cost of air quality. People are getting used to cleaner air. It's hard to go back.

Also the more solar they use, the more coal they can keep around for emergencies. The sun is free energy.

In 2025 China recorded a decline in generation from coal for the first time ever. [1]

1. https://ember-energy.org/countries-and-regions/china/#data