Letter from China: Taiwan tensions expose energy risks

China’s heavy reliance on energy imports means it too would be vulnerable in the event of armed confrontation

The US and China managed to avoid armed confrontation last week after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, but the highly charged incident underlined the risks to global energy security should a war break out between the world’s two superpowers over what Beijing calls its “renegade province”. No issue has the potential to sour US-China relations more than Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory and wants to reclaim—by force if necessary. Tensions were high as the US Air Force jet carrying Pelosi landed in Taiwan’s capital of Taipei last Tuesday, marking the first visit to the democratically ruled island by a House speaker in 25 years. Pelosi met Taiwanese leaders inclu