Vice Economy Minister Chen Chern-Chyi revealed that Taiwan has to keep a reasonable number of important supplies on a regular basis. The minister confirmed that the island makes an inventory of its stocks on a monthly basis.
He said: “With regard to a possible military conflict, we have made preparations for food and for energy and critical supplies, including production stocks.
“We have a system – we do an inventory every month.”
The economy minister added: “We want to ensure that we have stock in Taiwan for a certain period of time, including food, including essential supplies, minerals, chemicals and of course energy.”
Fears of an imminent attack from China have increased after Beijing stepped up political and military pressure on the island over its belief that Taiwan is Chinese territory.
Diplomatic relations between the two regions have crumbled and Taiwan has felt increasing pressure from Beijing as military exercises have been taking place around the island on a regular basis since 2016.
When Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen took office six years ago, she adamantly refused to accept the ‘One China’ principle, which infuriated Beijing.
Following Nancy Pelosi’s controversial visit to the island in August, which came despite warnings from China, Beijing has held live fire drills in the region and fired ballistic missiles.
The United States has pledged to support Taiwan against Chinese aggression, but on Wednesday President Tsai vowed that Taiwan would not rely on others for its defense.
Tsai thanked the US for its support, but said in a speech to a think tank at the Global Taiwan Institute in Washington: “We will not depend on others to come for our own defense”.
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A senior Taiwanese official said: “We believe that the Beijing authorities’ work on Taiwan has entered the stage of strengthening the practice of so-called anti-independence and promoting reunification.”
The head of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said Beijing will use “coercion and intimidation” and “grey zone” activities and international law to “disrupt and impede Taiwan’s interaction and cooperation with the international community to achieve its goals regarding from Taiwan.”
It is not known how many reserves Taiwan will need to withstand a blockade or attack from Beijing.