UK media The Guardian published news over the past weekend investigating Taiwan’s preparations for a possible Chinese invasion or blockade, focusing on logistics, wartime communications, and energy security. The article features in-depth interviews with Taiwanese officials and members of the President’s Whole-of-Society Resilience Committee.
On the issue of energy security, The Guardian spoke with Dr. Wen-ling Tu, president of DSET, and Tsai-ying Lu, director of the DSET Climate and Sustainability Resilience Research Program, to assess Taiwan’s energy preparedness in the event of a Chinese blockade of the Taiwan Strait.
The Guardian reported that Taiwan is highly dependent on energy imports, a vulnerability that would pose serious challenges in the event of a blockade by China. Currently, around 97% of Taiwan’s energy is sourced from abroad, with reserve levels varying by fuel type—approximately 90 days’ worth of coal and oil, and about 40 days of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Dr. Wen-ling Tu, DSET president and a member of the Presidential Resilience Committee, told The Guardian, “Energy will be the most critical problem because shelters, transportation, and hospitals all require energy.” DSET’s scenario modelling of a potential Taiwan Strait blockade suggests that renewable energy will be a key source of supply during such crises.
A visiting delegation from Ukraine also recommended that Taiwan strengthen its energy storage capacity and expand the production of portable power banks, identifying these as crucial components of wartime preparation.
Tsai-ying Lu, director of the Climate and Sustainability Resilience Research Program at DSET, noted that while the government is currently working to diversify energy imports and develop renewable energy, there remains an urgent need to improve the integration of solar and wind power into the national grid. In addition, private-sector preparedness for potential blackouts during crises must be further enhanced.
DSET stated that energy security during a blockade scenario has long been a core focus of its research, and the institute plans to collaborate with partner think tanks to develop wargaming simulations that include detailed electricity demand data. These simulations aim to assess the adequacy of Taiwan’s current policy responses and provide further strategic recommendations.