TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan defended its energy security strategy Tuesday (Sept. 9) after a prominent U.S. think tank warned that the island's heavy reliance on Qatari natural gas could expose it to Chinese pressure. The Ministry of Economic Affairs (經濟部) issued a detailed response emphasizing Taiwan's diversified liquefied natural gas procurement approach designed to strengthen energy supply resilience. The Foundation for Defense of Democracies had warned Sept. 4 that Taiwan's 30% dependence on Qatar for LNG imports creates vulnerabilities, urging the island to seek alternative energy sources.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs emphasized Taiwan's commitment to evaluating competitively priced LNG options that satisfy national energy requirements. Officials detailed the island's sophisticated procurement strategy featuring dynamic adjustments through primarily medium- and long-term contracts, strategically supplemented by flexible short-term agreements and opportunistic spot market purchases. This multi-layered approach allows Taiwan to respond swiftly to changing global energy markets while maintaining supply security.
The Bureau of Energy (能源署) highlighted Taiwan's impressive diversification achievements, with LNG imports sourcing from 14 countries by 2024, including Australia, Qatar, the United States, and Papua New Guinea. This geographic spread demonstrates Taiwan's systematic efforts to secure stable energy supplies across multiple regions and reduce geopolitical vulnerabilities. The Ministry of Economic Affairs emphasized a dramatic reduction in Qatari dependence, with imports dropping from 49% in 2013 to 25% in 2024, reflecting deliberate government policy to minimize single-source reliance.
Taiwan dramatically expanded American LNG imports since 2019, with the U.S. share surging from 3% to 10% by 2024, demonstrating strategic diversification efforts to mitigate geopolitical risks. CPC Corporation (中油公司), Taiwan's state energy company, signed a significant letter of intent March 20 with U.S. partners for Alaskan LNG purchases and investments. This landmark agreement signals Taiwan's commitment to substantially increasing American energy imports while reducing dependence on potentially vulnerable supply routes. ◼
