讀後心得

Taipei City report, in light of the uncertainties in international affairs, whether Taiwan's water, electricity, and food supplies are sufficient to respond to emergencies has become a major concern. A report from the Ministry of Agriculture shows that the domestic food self-sufficiency rate is only 30%, the lowest in 18 years. With foreign media reporting that China may blockade Taiwan, Minister of Economic Affairs Guo Zhi-hui stated that there are response measures in place, but he cannot disclose specific details. Legislators have pointed out that if a blockade occurs, Taiwan's energy and food security need to be more assured. Currently, the Ministry of Agriculture has not made the latest food inventory public, and scholars have indicated that self-sufficiency rates should be increased to fend off potential threats.

In response to international developments, if one day our country enters a state of emergency, will our water, electricity, and food supplies be sufficient to cope? The Ministry of Agriculture pointed out last year that the domestic food self-sufficiency rate is only 30%, the lowest record in 18 years. With recent reports suggesting that China may plan to block Taiwan, the issue of wartime supplies has garnered attention once again. The Minister of Economic Affairs stated that there are countermeasures in place, but it is inconvenient to disclose the relevant details.

The Minister of Economic Affairs said: "We already have countermeasures in response, but it is inconvenient to answer how long they will last." Wartime energy and material reserves have become a focal point of concern, as external reports continue to highlight China's blockade actions, and the preparations have reached unprecedented levels. Five months ago, during the military exercises surrounding Taiwan by the Chinese Communist Party, issues regarding water, electricity, and food were also raised.

Legislators asked how we should respond in the event of a blockade by the Chinese Communist Party. Many people questioned our heavy reliance on energy imports. If the three natural gas receiving stations can be successfully completed, the legal reserve could be expected to last for more than 14 days. Although the Ministry of Economic Affairs expressed confidence regarding energy issues, livelihood concerns remain tricky, and whether the current stock of rice and grains in the granaries is sufficient for long-term storage has become a point of doubt among the public.

According to the latest 2023 food supply and demand annual report released by the Ministry of Agriculture, the food self-sufficiency rate is only 30%, hitting an 18-year low, with the grain self-sufficiency rate dropping to 25.5%, and the vegetable self-sufficiency rate reaching its lowest point in nearly 10 years. Legislators pointed out that whether setting a target of 40% for food self-sufficiency can effectively respond to wartime situations still leaves much room for discussion. If the Ministry of Agriculture does not have concrete measures, it may be difficult to even maintain a self-sufficiency rate of 30%.

Looking back to April 2020, the domestic public grain stock was about 860,000 tons, plus the private grain traders' stock of at least 1.1 million tons, without accounting for the new harvest. Based on a monthly consumption of 100,000 tons of rice, it could last at least 9 to 11 months. Due to state secrecy reasons, the Ministry of Agriculture is inconvenient to disclose the latest stock information, but scholars point out that a conservative estimate for safe rice reserves requires three months, and if the harvest is abundant that year, the reserves would definitely be sufficient. Nevertheless, aside from rice, concerns remain regarding crops like wheat and protein sources, which rely 95% on imports.

Scholars indicate that if ports are blocked, agricultural products like feed corn and soybeans will be unable to be imported, which will then affect the raising of poultry and livestock, leading to a shortage of meat products. Scholars suggest that the food self-sufficiency rate should be increased, and the public should consider storing at least three months' worth of food or producing their own livestock feed in preparation for emergencies to guard against external threats.