The nation's high dependence on imported energy renders its economy vulnerable to any oil price shock. An increase in electricity fees is already in the pipeline due to higher oil prices, and so the cost of living goes up and the public complains.
The recent calls, again, by the government to encourage fuel conservation and to develop alternative sources of energy, makes it clear that policy makers actually know what energy strategy the nation needs. What's missing is an action plan to get us from here to there.
As part of such a plan, it is imperative that the domestic energy market be given a free hand by the government. This will allow price fluctuations to reflect the actual level of oil supply and consumer demand -- and as prices rise, the public will have a natural incentive to conserve fuel.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and its Bureau of Energy have been active in promoting energy conservation, allocating billions of dollars every year to publish material on resource conservation and to arrange public seminars -- including the national energy strategy conference last June.
But the government's efforts have been ineffectual, for it lacks the mandate to insist that manufacturers and households make the necessary behavioral changes to conserve energy. Efforts to promote the development of renewable energy sources have also been unimpressive as the financial incentives and tax credits offered by the government are insufficient.
Last week, Minister of Economic Affairs Morgan Hwang (黃營杉) expressed concern over the nation's high dependence on imported oil and demanded higher fuel efficiency standards industry-wide. He also urged state-run Taiwan Power Co to develop solar energy technology and talked about a future where rooftop solar systems are widely used to help reduce electricity demand during peak hours.
But despite Hwang's call, the government itself hasn't demonstrated much interest in making alternative energy sources viable. For instance, few government buildings include solar-electric systems to save energy or even use electricity-management systems to help monitor and control energy use.
Development of solar-energy systems is maturing, compared with other forms of alternative or renewable energy. But it is still some way from becoming commercially viable for business or residential users. High production costs are just one of a few reasons solar energy hasn't become a major source of electricity.
Like other countries, Taiwan is developing renewable energy sources like solar, wind and hydro power. But as Academia Sinica President Lee Yuan-tseh (
Nevertheless, so long as the government imposes price controls on oil and electricity in an effort to fight inflation, people will not wake-up to the urgent need for serious conservation work.
If the government is determined to bring inflation under control by requiring state-owned power companies to absorb the cost of higher oil imports and thus keep retail fuel and power prices comparatively low, not only will the government see its budget deteriorate, but power companies will also feel no urgency to become more efficient in terms of production and cost control.
Sooner or later, the government has to pass on to the public the true cost of oil, and let prices rise accordingly.
Recently, China launched another diplomatic offensive against Taiwan, improperly linking its “one China principle” with UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 to constrain Taiwan’s diplomatic space. After Taiwan’s presidential election on Jan. 13, China persuaded Nauru to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Nauru cited Resolution 2758 in its declaration of the diplomatic break. Subsequently, during the WHO Executive Board meeting that month, Beijing rallied countries including Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Belarus, Egypt, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Laos, Russia, Syria and Pakistan to reiterate the “one China principle” in their statements, and assert that “Resolution 2758 has settled the status of Taiwan” to hinder Taiwan’s
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s (李顯龍) decision to step down after 19 years and hand power to his deputy, Lawrence Wong (黃循財), on May 15 was expected — though, perhaps, not so soon. Most political analysts had been eyeing an end-of-year handover, to ensure more time for Wong to study and shadow the role, ahead of general elections that must be called by November next year. Wong — who is currently both deputy prime minister and minister of finance — would need a combination of fresh ideas, wisdom and experience as he writes the nation’s next chapter. The world that
Can US dialogue and cooperation with the communist dictatorship in Beijing help avert a Taiwan Strait crisis? Or is US President Joe Biden playing into Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) hands? With America preoccupied with the wars in Europe and the Middle East, Biden is seeking better relations with Xi’s regime. The goal is to responsibly manage US-China competition and prevent unintended conflict, thereby hoping to create greater space for the two countries to work together in areas where their interests align. The existing wars have already stretched US military resources thin, and the last thing Biden wants is yet another war.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, people have been asking if Taiwan is the next Ukraine. At a G7 meeting of national leaders in January, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida warned that Taiwan “could be the next Ukraine” if Chinese aggression is not checked. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said that if Russia is not defeated, then “today, it’s Ukraine, tomorrow it can be Taiwan.” China does not like this rhetoric. Its diplomats ask people to stop saying “Ukraine today, Taiwan tomorrow.” However, the rhetoric and stated ambition of Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) on Taiwan shows strong parallels with