China has proposed “peaceful reunification” with Taiwan, linking it to guaranteed supplies of liquefied natural gas, but Taipei has rejected the offer and plans to increase fuel purchases from the United States, Reuters reports.
Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said that a “peaceful reunification” scenario could provide the island with a higher level of energy and resource security through the backing of a “strong motherland.”
“We are ready to provide our compatriots in Taiwan with stable and reliable energy and resource security so they can live better,” he said.
In response, Taiwan’s president said the island had already diversified its energy supplies for the coming months, including contracts with the United States. Previously, around one-third of its LNG imports came from Qatar, while no energy purchases were made from China.