Taiwan Abandons Decade of Anti-Nuclear Policy to Restart Shuttered Reactors Amid Global Energy Supply Uncertainty

Taiwan reverses its nuclear-free policy, restarting reactors to build energy resilience against Chinese coercion and global supply shocks from the Iran war.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 25, 2026, 4:20 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Strategic Reversal of Long-Standing Anti-Nuclear Precedents

In a significant shift in national policy, the Taiwanese government has announced plans to bring two previously decommissioned nuclear reactors back online. President Lai Ching-te confirmed that state utility Taipower will submit formal proposals to the Nuclear Safety Commission to restart operations at the Guosheng and Ma-anshan facilities. This decision breaks a decade of political precedent established by the Democratic Progressive Party, which had prioritized a complete nuclear phase-out following the 2011 Fukushima disaster. The policy shift reflects a growing recognition that nuclear power, which once provided 20 percent of the island’s electricity, is essential for maintaining baseload stability during periods of heightened geopolitical volatility.

Technical Audits and Timelines for Operational Restoration

The restoration of Taiwan's nuclear capacity will involve rigorous safety oversight from international partners. GE Aerospace and Westinghouse Electric have been designated to conduct comprehensive audits of both plants before they are cleared for reactivation. To facilitate the restart, Taipower has already initiated the procurement of fuel rods sufficient for an 18-month operational cycle. Current projections suggest that the Ma-anshan plant could be functional by the end of 2028, with the Guosheng facility following in 2029. This timeline underscores the urgency felt in Taipei to rectify energy vulnerabilities that have intensified since the total shuttering of Ma-anshan’s last unit in May 2025.

Diversification of Liquefied Natural Gas Supply Chains

Beyond the nuclear restart, Taipei is aggressively seeking to insulate its energy sector from regional instability through new partnerships with the United States. In April 2025, Taiwan committed to sourcing nearly one-third of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) from American suppliers, a massive increase from the previous 10 percent share. This transition includes direct investments in U.S. infrastructure, such as the March 2025 agreement by the Chinese Petroleum Company to purchase LNG from Alaska’s North Slope. These measures are designed to provide greater delivery flexibility and reduce reliance on Middle Eastern routes currently threatened by the war in Iran.