The government yesterday rejected an offer by China for energy security if Taiwan agreed to Beijing’s rule, an expected response given Taipei has expressed that it does not want to be governed by its neighbor.
Governments around the world are scrambling for alternative energy supplies since the US-Israeli war on Iran severed shipping lanes through the vital Strait of Hormuz.
Taiwan receives one-third of its liquefied natural gas from Qatar and the government has said that it has secured alternative supplies for the months ahead, including from the US, the nation’s main international backer.
Photo: Screen grab from the CPC Corp, Taiwan Web site
In response to China’s offer, Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Ho Chin-tsang (何晉滄) said: “Of course, this is impossible. This is part of cognitive warfare,” referring to what the government views as Beijing’s ongoing psychological pressure.
“On energy, we in Taiwan have made preparations, we have safety reserves and response plans,” Ho added.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Chen Binhua (陳斌華) said in Beijing on Wednesday that “peaceful reunification” would bring better protection of Taiwan’s energy and resource security with a “strong motherland” as its backing.
The government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims and says only Taiwanese can decide their future.
China has long offered Taiwan “one country, two systems” autonomy if it agrees to be brought under Beijing’s control, which no major political party supports.
In October last year, Xinhua news agency mapped out what it said were the advantages Taiwan would enjoy after “reunification,” including economic support, but said the nation had to be run by “patriots.”
China, the world’s top oil importer, last week banned fuel exports until at least the end of the month, in an attempt to preempt domestic shortages, sources said, curbing exports that last year totaled US$22 billion.
Eight Chinese naval vessels and 24 military aircraft were detected crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait between 6am yesterday and 6am today, the Ministry of National Defense said this morning. The aircraft entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern air defense identification zones, the ministry said. The armed forces responded with mission aircraft, naval vessels and shore-based missile systems to closely monitor the situation, it added. Eight naval vessels, one official ship and 36 aircraft sorties were spotted in total, the ministry said.
INCREASED CAPACITY: The flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays would leave Singapore in the morning and Taipei in the afternoon Singapore Airlines is adding four supplementary flights to Taipei per week until May to meet increased tourist and business travel demand, the carrier said on Friday. The addition would raise the number of weekly flights it operates to Taipei to 18, Singapore Airlines Taiwan general manager Timothy Ouyang (歐陽漢源) said. The airline has recorded a steady rise in tourist and business travel to and from Taipei, and aims to provide more flexible travel arrangements for passengers, said Ouyang, who assumed the post in July last year. From now until Saturday next week, four additional flights would depart from Singapore on Monday, Wednesday, Friday
The Ministry of National Defense yesterday reported the return of large-scale Chinese air force activities after their unexplained absence for more than two weeks, which had prompted speculation regarding Beijing’s motives. China usually sends fighter jets, drones and other military aircraft around the nation on a daily basis. Interruptions to such routine are generally caused by bad weather. The Ministry of National Defense said it had detected 26 Chinese military aircraft in the Taiwan Strait over the previous 24 hours. It last reported that many aircraft on Feb. 25, when it spotted 30 aircraft, saying Beijing was carrying out another “joint combat
Taiwan successfully defended its women’s 540 kilogram title and won its first-ever men’s 640 kg title at the 2026 World Indoor Tug of War Championships in Taipei yesterday. In the women’s event, Taiwan’s eight-person squad reached the final following a round-robin preliminary round and semifinals featuring teams from Ukraine, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, the Basque Country and South Korea. In the finals, they swept the Basque team 2-0, giving the team composed mainly of National Taiwan Normal University students and graduates its second championship in a row, and its fourth in five years. Team captain
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