China sees Taiwan’s reliance on energy imports as a vulnerability, Rep. Pat Harrigan says.
Taiwan’s energy security by boosting U.S. liquefied natural gas exports to the island and offering war-risk insurance to ensure fuel shipments continue despite threats from China.
Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.), who serves on the Armed Services Committee, introduced the Taiwan Energy Security and Anti-Embargo Act of 2026 on March 10. According to his office, the bill aims to make sure that Taiwan “isn’t left vulnerable to supply shocks or coercion by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) or external geopolitical turmoil.”
“Energy is leverage,” Harrigan said in a statement to accompany his legislation.
“Beijing knows exactly where Taiwan is weakest—and global events today, from strikes in the Middle East to threats at chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz, underscore that energy vulnerability is national security vulnerability.”
The Chinese regime has signaled its intent to seize Taiwan, a self-governing island that Beijing considers part of its territory. Analysts have identified several potential strategies China could employ to compel Taiwan to surrender, including a blockade, a quarantine, or even an amphibious invasion.
Regardless of the approach, Taiwan would likely face significant disruptions to its energy supplies. In 2024, the island imported nearly 96 percent of its energy, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Harrigan’s bill comes as oil prices have surged in recent days amid supply concerns stemming from the escalating war involving Iran.
“This bill pushes U.S. [liquefied natural gas] to Taiwan, backs next-generation nuclear cooperation, and guarantees strategic shipping won’t be held hostage by hostile insurers or hostile powers,” Harrigan said. “If deterrence is to mean anything, it must start with hardening the points our adversaries count on.”
The legislation would amend the Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act, which was signed into law as part of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, according to the bill.
Taiwan’s energy infrastructure—including electric grid systems and liquefied natural gas facilities—is “vulnerable to asymmetric and kinetic threats” from China, according to the bill. As a result, the legislation seeks to enhance U.S.–Taiwanese cooperation on cybersecurity programs, physical security enhancements, joint training exercises, and workforce development.
By Frank Fang
