The decision to shut down Taiwan’s final nuclear reactor is one of the most ridiculous policy choices ever embraced by the island’s leaders.
There are currently three Chinese warships operating off the coast of Taiwan. This is not a new development. Chinese naval warships and coast guard cutters have become ubiquitous in the waters surrounding Taiwan—and they are becoming increasingly belligerent. It is likely only a matter of time before Beijing decides to pull the trigger on a blockade or an invasion of the embattled democracy in a bid to reabsorb the island into China’s budding co-prosperity sphere.
Taiwan has allies, of course. But there is no guarantee that those allies would come to its aid if it meant starting a third world war—or, even if they did, that they could get to the island in time. In short, for Taiwan to survive, it must become self-sufficient. In a few areas, notably defense procurement, the Taiwanese are making slow but steady moves toward self-sufficiency and indigenization.
Beyond that arena, though, the Taiwanese are still completely unserious about their national defense. In multiple key strategic areas, the Taiwanese have simply failed to do all they can for themselves—raising questions in the West as to whether they should be required to pick up the slack.
A Chinese Blockade Could Plunge Taiwan Into Darkness
Last year, Taiwan imported an astonishing 97 percent of its energy. Put another way, Taipei is apparently comfortable with its modern nation—overwhelmingly reliant on foreign energy supplies—going dark once the Chinese initiate their attack. That is precisely what China is plotting to do as part of their strategy to take the island by force.
Electricity is the foundation of a modern society. If one can deprive their adversary of it, their lives will be profoundly impacted, with devastating consequences for morale. Indeed, a nation accustomed to a high standard of living might even surrender outright rather than be inconvenienced with an indefinite lack of reliable power.
Taipei should be doing everything it can to ensure that Taiwan is a porcupine. Part of that porcupine strategy means energy self-sufficiency. Yet even with a whopping 97 percent of the energy in Taiwan coming from foreign sources, Taiwan’s government just presided over the shuttering of the country’s last nuclear reactor. All this occurs as the nation’s power demand is set to rise by 13 percent by the end of the decade, thanks mainly to its status as the leading producer of high-end computer chips.
Of course, nuclear power does not come without its significant risks—as anyone from Chernobyl or Fukushima can relate. Nevertheless, in Taiwan’s wretched state, beggars cannot be choosers. It must do everything in its power to maintain robust, reliable self-sufficiency when it comes to energy.
Taipei wants to shift energy production toward renewables—wind and solar. But as earlier adapters of these green technologies understand, the sun does not always shine and the wind does not always blow. Taiwan needs a “base load” power source equipped to generate electricity, day or night. Coal and natural gas fill these functions, but they must be imported. So must nuclear fuel, but it is far more enduring than fossil fuels are.
Taiwanese Defense Leaders Aren’t Thinking Straight
None of this comports with the brutal reality that Taiwan is facing. Now that the final nuclear reactor has been closed—with renewables nowhere near reliable enough to pick up the slack—an astonishing 84 percent of the country’s power supply will emanate from imported oil and natural gas.
The decision to shut down Taiwan’s final nuclear reactor is one of the most ridiculous policy choices ever embraced by the island’s leaders—and is yet another indicator of just how unserious they are about standing on its own in the face of Chinese aggression. If Taiwan can’t even seem to get its act together on energy production, what else can’t the Taiwanese do for themselves? And why should Taipei expect Americans to risk a third world war on their behalf?
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / skazovD.
