Putin left China, without a pipeline deal. Why didn’t the Hormuz crisis open the valve?

In an era when technology seems to defy all limits, one age-old barrier has managed to endure: geography.
As geopolitical turbulence continues to disrupt traffic through the Strait of Hormuz – a vital shipping artery, especially for energy – the search for other fuel sources, and other means of transport, has shifted from a strategic luxury to an existential necessity. This need has become particularly acute for China, a major consumer of fossil fuels.
Middle Eastern imports remain a significant...