In a recent report titled “Taiwan’s Secret Weapon Against China,” Deutsche Welle (DW) examined Taiwan’s energy security challenges in the context of growing military threats and the risk of a potential maritime blockade by China. The report highlights that over 90 percent of Taiwan’s energy supply is imported by sea, making it highly vulnerable to disruptions. Any interruption to maritime routes would have significant consequences for Taiwan’s economy and global supply chains, particularly the semiconductor industry, which depends on a stable electricity supply.
In response to these concerns, Tsai-Ying Lu, Head of the Energy Resilience Team at the Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology (DSET), noted that nearly half of Taiwan’s electricity generation currently relies on imported liquefied natural gas (LNG), underscoring the island’s dependence on secure maritime transport. She further explained that natural gas has become one of Taiwan’s primary energy sources in recent years; however, its storage presents substantial technical and economic challenges due to the need for ultra-low temperature infrastructure and high maintenance costs. As such, expanding strategic reserves must carefully balance national security considerations with economic feasibility.
Lu emphasized that under a full blockade scenario, Taiwan would need to rely more heavily on coal-fired power generation and renewable energy sources, while implementing demand-side management measures to maintain stable electricity supply and reduce LNG consumption.
She further noted that Taiwan’s energy system—characterized by a high reliance on imported fuels—creates a structural vulnerability that closely links energy security with geopolitical risk. Any disruption to maritime supply lines would directly affect power stability and the operation of critical industries.
While renewable energy development offers a pathway to greater long-term energy autonomy, Lu pointed out that challenges remain, including deployment speed, energy storage capacity, and grid resilience. Addressing these issues will be critical to strengthening Taiwan’s overall energy security in an increasingly uncertain regional environment.
