Voters in Taiwan are set to decide Saturday on a pivotal Taiwan nuclear power vote, determining whether to restart nuclear capabilities amid growing concerns over energy security and potential threats from China.
The island faces significant energy vulnerabilities, importing up to 97% of its energy needs over the last decade. Fossil fuels currently constitute over 90% of Taiwan’s energy usage, with renewables providing around 7%.
Details of the Taiwan Nuclear Power Vote
The vote comes after Taiwan shut its last facility, the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant, in May. A decision to restart the country’s nuclear program would reverse a long-standing policy to move away from atomic energy.
Proponents argue that nuclear power can provide crucial energy storage and continuity. Experts warn that if China implemented a blockade, Taiwan would likely exhaust its oil reserves within weeks or even days.
Shifting DPP Nuclear Energy Policy
The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) pledged in 2016 to phase out nuclear power by 2025. This decision was heavily influenced by safety concerns following Japan’s 2011 Fukushima accident and the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.
Nuclear power’s contribution to Taiwan’s energy supply has steadily decreased, falling from nearly 12% in 2011 to just over 4% by 2022. The move mirrored policies in other nations, such as Germany, which phased out nuclear power completely in 2023.
Taiwan Energy Security China Blockade Fears
Security experts now warn that Taiwan’s heavy reliance on energy imports is a critical weakness. Craig Singleton of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) described the situation, stating, “Taiwan’s energy dependence is an Achilles heel.“
Singleton noted that “Beijing can exploit this issue without firing a single shot.” He explained that “China can leverage its maritime dominance, its legal warfare and cyber tools to choke supply and test Taiwan’s political resilience.“
Nuclear Power as a Strategic Countermeasure
Advocates believe restarting nuclear plants could significantly complicate any coercive actions from Beijing. Singleton argues that nuclear power provides a stable energy source that is less susceptible to an immediate blockade.
“Nuclear power does, in my view, change that calculus, providing a lot of continuity under coercion, and I think it really complicates Beijing’s playbook,” Singleton said. This would give Taipei an additional energy storage solution in a crisis.
China Taiwan Ukraine Energy Strategy Insights
The ongoing war in Ukraine provides a stark case study on the strategic importance of energy infrastructure. Russia has targeted Ukraine’s power grid to weaken civilian morale and pressure the government.
“Ukraine shows that energy is one of the fastest ways to undermine a country’s will,” Singleton stated, adding that Russia targeted power to fracture cohesion and force concessions. “I think Beijing is absolutely studying that playbook.“
Calls for Taiwan Energy Diversification
Beyond the vote, experts stress the urgent need for Taiwan to diversify its energy sources. Taiwan currently depends on nations like the U. S.
Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar for its LNG and crude oil imports.
Singleton urged that “The U.S. needs to help Taiwan diversify fast, cut exposure to vulnerable suppliers like Qatar, and probably prepare for a contest of endurance.” He concluded that Taiwan must ready itself, “because I think that’s exactly how China is thinking about this issue.“
