Taiwan considers that nuclear restart as an energy dependence presents risks

Taiwan voters go to the polls on Saturday to decide whether Taipei should rekindle its nuclear energy capacities while the island is faced with immense energy vulnerabilities in an increasingly worrying context concerning the threats posed by China.

In May, Taiwan closed the Maanshan nuclear power plant – its last nuclear power plant – after the Progressive Democratic Party (DPP) in power, undertook in 2016 to eliminate nuclear energy by 2025 on concerns relating to nuclear spinoffs after the 2011 Fukushima accident in Japan.

Safety experts have since sounded the alarm that the move still exposes Taiwan’s vulnerabilities to China, because the island depends strongly on energy imports, based strongly on nations such as the United States, Australia, Saudi Arabia and Qatar for imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and crude oil.

“Taiwan’s energy dependence is an Achilles heel,” said Craig Singleton, principal director of the Chinese program and main member of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), during a media call after the visit of a delegation on the island earlier this month.

Meeting of China Eyes Trump-Putin, Gauges West’s Resolve on Ukraine

People enjoy their Saturday afternoon in a beach near the Maanshan nuclear power plant, which should close at midnight, in the county of Pingtung, in Taiwan, on May 17, 2025. (Daniel Ceng / Anadolu via Getty Images)

“Beijing can exploit this problem without shooting a single blow,” he added, noting the ease to which China can cut trade on the island. “China can take advantage of its maritime domination, its legal war and its cyber tools to stifle the supply and test the political resilience of Taiwan.”

Over the past decade, Taiwan has imported up to 97% of its energy needs, largely thanks to fossil fuel options, which currently represent just over 90% of its energy consumption, while renewable energies would represent 7% additional, according to FDD experts.

Although before its decision to store links with the alternative energy option, nuclear energy was a strong source of supply and provided almost 12% of the island’s needs in 2011.

By 2021, this offer fell at around 9.5% and the following year, it fell Just over 4% Before being completely eliminated this year.

Nuclear energy for certain nations, especially in Europe, has become a solution while they seek to lower carbon -emitting fuels in a context of increasing concern about climate change.

Trump’s signaled snob of the Taiwan president stimulates concerns concerning deference to China

The soldiers pose for group photos with a Taiwan flag after an exercise in improving the preparation simulating the defense against the military intrusions of Beijing, before the new lunar year in Kaohsiung City, in Taiwan, on January 11, 2023. (Photo / Daniel Ceng)

But some nations, such as Germany, have adopted a strong nuclear approach on concerns relating to nuclear repercussions – as we can see after the devastating consequences of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which has not only affected those who affected the immediate surroundings of Ukraine, but have had resounding effects through Europe.

Berlin in 2023 has also completely eliminated nuclear energy – but Taiwan faces flagrant safety challenges that Germany is not.

Certain opponents of nuclear energy also stressed that war -time scenarios have shown security risks surrounding active nuclear power plants – as we can see during the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and its fight against the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

But experts also argue that Taiwan would probably use his oil reserves in a few weeks to a few days if China was implemented, according to a Report by DW.

Therefore, nuclear energy would give Taipei an additional energy storage solution.

Japan calls axis of China, Russia, North Korea, the “most serious threat” of the world order since the Second World War

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is on the land of landing crafts in an exercise on the continental coast near Taiwan, September 10, 1999. (Str / Xinhua / AFP via Getty Images)

“Nuclear energy changes, in my opinion, this calculation, providing a lot of continuity under coercion, and I think that really complicates the Beijing game book,” said Singleton.

In the end, he said Taiwan must better diversify his energy needs in order to better protect himself from a potential Chinese blockade.

“The United States must help Taiwan to diversify quickly, to reduce exposure to vulnerable suppliers like Qatar, and to probably prepare for an endurance competition because I think that is exactly how China thinks of this problem,” he added, noting the relationship of Qatar with China and its large number of LNG exports to be convicted.

The PLA Navy and the APL army conduct a red-blue confrontation exercise in live-all-day and all-ore in the city of Zhangzhou, Fujian province, China, August 24, 2022. (CFOTO / FUTURE Publishing via Getty Images)

Click here to obtain the Fox News app

Singleton stressed that Ukraine has proven a useful case study, not only with regard to the vulnerabilities of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, but how an invasive nation can target vulnerabilities in all aspects of the energy sector.

“Ukraine shows that energy is one of the fastest ways to undermine the will of a country. And obviously, Russia has targeted the power to release cities and fracture cohesion and force concessions,” said Singleton. “I think Beijing absolutely studies this game book.”