Disinformation Campaign Targets Taiwan's Natural Gas Supply Amid Middle East Conflict

Taiwan has recently been the target of a wave of online disinformation claiming that the island's liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies will be depleted within 11 days due to disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. This narrative, which officials warn could incite panic and undermine public confidence in the government, has proliferated on Chinese-language social media platforms, with numerous posts suggesting that Taiwan is on the brink of an energy crisis.

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In response to these claims, Taiwan's Minister of Economic Affairs, Kung Ming-hsin, stated that the island has sufficient LNG reserves for March and April, emphasizing that one-third of its LNG supply comes from Qatar. He asserted, “They claimed that we would run out of gas – that is simply impossible.” The Ministry of Economic Affairs has also indicated that while 22 LNG vessels are scheduled to pass through the now-blocked Strait of Hormuz, the supply will remain unaffected due to contingency plans that include sourcing gas from non-Middle Eastern countries and emergency procurement.

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Experts have weighed in on the situation, noting that while Taiwan's maximum LNG inventory may only last 11 days, this does not equate to an imminent shortage. Professor Yeh Tsung-kuang from National Tsing Hua University explained that Taiwan sources LNG from multiple countries, including Russia, Australia, and the United States. He criticized the disinformation campaign for creating a false impression that Taiwan would be left without natural gas if Middle Eastern supplies were disrupted.

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The disinformation surrounding Taiwan's energy supply is viewed as part of a larger campaign by Beijing to undermine confidence in Taiwan's energy security. The Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing suggested that “peaceful reunification could provide better protection” for Taiwan’s energy needs, a notion that Taiwan's Deputy Economy Minister Ho Chin-tsang dismissed as part of “cognitive warfare.” Joseph Webster, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, noted that such narratives could be politically motivated to weaken Taiwan’s resolve regarding its energy independence.

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While Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs has assured that the natural gas supply remains stable, reports from various media outlets have raised concerns about potential disruptions to Qatari LNG supplies due to the conflict. Bloomberg reported a significant drop in global LNG exports, primarily from Qatar, due to Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global LNG flows. This discrepancy highlights the uncertainty surrounding Taiwan's energy security amid escalating geopolitical tensions.

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• “They claimed that we would run out of gas – that is simply impossible,” — Kung Ming-hsin, Minister of Economic Affairs

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• “These netizens are interpreting the situation as if LNG from the Middle East cannot get through, Taiwan will be left without a natural gas supply.” — Yeh Tsung-kuang, Professor, National Tsing Hua University

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• “So this disinformation is either explicitly or implicitly a part of that larger campaign,” — Joseph Webster, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council

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In summary, while Taiwan's government maintains that its LNG supplies are secure, the spread of disinformation poses a significant challenge to public perception and confidence in energy security, particularly in the context of rising tensions in the Middle East.

The Straits Times