Taiwan’s green energy gamble  

Excerpt

China’s increasing militarism in the Taiwan Strait is no secret. Yet, as Taipei transitions from nuclear to renewable energy sources, it risks inadvertently amplifying its vulnerabilities and paving the way for Beijing to pursue its reunification goals.  

In the 1970s, Taiwan’s nuclear energy program took center stage, safeguarding the nation from global energy shocks and fueling its industrial boom. At its peak, six reactors generated over half of the island’s power. However, the Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters shifted public sentiment, gradually edging out nuclear power in favor of other energy sources.

Fast forward to today, Taiwan’s pivot to renewables is proving highly problematic. In decommissioning its nuclear reactors, the island has grappled with major power shortages and rolling blackouts. To address this, Taiwan significantly increased its liquified natural gas (LNG) imports, albeit without meaningfully expanding storage capacity. The transition to wind and solar has also faced hiccups owing to a dearth of available land and cost over-runs, not to mention their dependence on materials sourced from China.   

Craig Singleton, a former U.S. diplomat, is a senior China fellow at the non-partisan Foundation for Defense of Democracies.  X: @CraigMSingleton. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.