The offer was made by China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, with spokesperson Chen Binhua saying “peaceful reunification” would provide stronger protection for Taiwan’s energy and resource security under what he called the backing of a “strong motherland.”

The proposal comes as governments worldwide scramble to secure alternative fuel supplies following disruptions to shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global oil and liquefied natural gas flows.

Taiwan, which previously sourced about one-third of its liquefied natural gas from Qatar and imports no energy from China, has said it has secured alternative supplies for the coming months, including from the United States, its main international backer.

President Lai Ching-te said energy supplies for the near term were assured and that additional U.S. gas imports would begin from June, according to a statement from his Democratic Progressive Party.

China has long framed economic and security incentives as part of its strategy to persuade Taiwan to accept unification under its “one country, two systems” model, which no major Taiwanese political party supports.

Chen said Beijing was willing to provide “stable and reliable energy and resource security” to improve living conditions for people in Taiwan, reiterating a narrative that closer integration would bring material benefits.

Taiwan’s government, which rejects China’s sovereignty claims, has consistently maintained that only the island’s people can determine its future.

The energy proposal comes against the backdrop of heightened geopolitical strain, with the Middle East conflict triggering volatility in global energy markets and prompting countries across Asia to reassess supply security.

China, the world’s largest oil importer, has also taken domestic measures to safeguard supply, including restricting fuel exports in recent days, according to reports.

Beijing has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, though it has repeatedly stated a preference for peaceful unification.

The latest offer underscores how energy security has emerged as a central element in cross-strait dynamics as global supply disruptions reshape strategic calculations.

The move comes as roughly 20% of global LNG supply remains offline after the conflict forced the shutdown of facilities operated by QatarEnergy, significantly disrupting energy exports from the Middle East.

JERA handles about 35 million metric tons of LNG annually, with around 27 million tons consumed domestically in Japan, according to Global Chief Executive Yukio Kani.

About 5% of the company’s shipments pass through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a major energy transit corridor.Kani told reporters on the sidelines of the Indo-Pacific Energy Security Ministerial and Business Forum in Tokyo that the company is holding talks with suppliers with whom it already maintains long-term contracts to explore additional procurement options.

While there is currently no immediate shortage of LNG, Kani said the company is planning for possible prolonged disruption.“It is still possible that things could settle down within a few weeks. However, it would be far too optimistic to base our planning on that assumption,” he said.

Regional LNG prices have fluctuated sharply since the disruption. The average LNG price for April delivery into Northeast Asia was estimated at $19.50 per million British thermal units, down from $22.50 per mmBtu a week earlier, which had marked the highest level since mid-January 2023.

Energy security concerns have also resurfaced among global buyers as geopolitical tensions escalate in the Middle East.Steven Read, president of Global Coal Sales Group, which markets coal produced by U.S. mining company Signal Peak Energy, said the market had already begun to react to the heightened uncertainty.

“We’ve already seen customers coming in wanting to talk about options,” Read told Reuters on the sidelines of the conference, noting renewed interest from buyers considering additional cargoes.

If the disruption deepens and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains constrained, Japan may need to consider broader measures to maintain energy supply, Kani said.

These could include working with the Japanese government to encourage energy conservation and restarting dormant power stations, including coal-fired plants.At the same forum, U.S. LNG exporter Venture Global LNG said the current volatility in energy markets was likely temporary.

Chief Executive Mike Sabel said the company viewed the current price fluctuations as short-term turbulence despite the geopolitical tensions affecting supply.

“We’re tremendously optimistic about the middle- and long-term strength of the market, equity in the market, supply coming online. We expect long-term, very stable liquefaction prices,” Sabel said.

Finance Minister Wale Edun convened the country’s Economic Management Team to assess how rising geopolitical tensions could affect crude oil prices, capital flows and logistics costs, the ministry said in a statement.

Officials said instability linked to the conflict is already pushing up global crude prices, with concerns centred on possible disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes.

The ministry said higher oil prices could translate into increased domestic costs for fuel, diesel, cooking gas and fertiliser, potentially placing additional pressure on households and businesses.

Authorities warned that prolonged instability in the Middle East could also intensify inflationary pressures and raise living costs.

Government officials said they are closely tracking a range of economic indicators, including crude price movements, exchange-rate pressures, capital flows, fiscal risks and foreign reserve levels.

The review comes as policymakers weigh potential spillover effects from global market volatility on the country’s financial stability.

The finance ministry said Nigeria entered the period with strengthening macroeconomic fundamentals, citing gross domestic product growth of 4.07% in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Authorities said policies would remain under review to protect households and businesses while maintaining investor confidence as global market conditions evolve.

The conflict, which has spread tensions across much of the Middle East, has pushed global oil prices up by about 15%, disrupted gas flows from the region and triggered sharp reactions across Indian financial markets. The rupee fell to a record low, while government bond yields rose as investors grew concerned about the country’s current account deficit and the potential inflationary impact of higher energy costs.Despite the market turbulence, central bank officials assessing the situation believe the most immediate risk lies in slower economic growth rather than a sustained surge in inflation, according to the sources familiar with policy deliberations.

Growth risks outweigh inflation pressuresIndia relies heavily on imported crude oil, making it vulnerable to supply disruptions and price spikes when geopolitical tensions escalate in energy-producing regions. The recent conflict has raised concerns that prolonged instability could raise import costs and widen the country’s trade deficit.However, policymakers appear to believe that weakening economic activity could pose a more pressing challenge in the near term. Slower industrial output and potential disruptions to energy supplies could affect sectors reliant on stable fuel and gas availability.The current policy thinking contrasts with the reaction in financial markets, where traders have started pricing in the possibility of higher interest rates. Interest rates have risen across global and emerging markets since the conflict began, reflecting fears that higher energy costs could feed into broader inflation.In India’s interest-rate swap market, traders have increased bets that borrowing costs may rise at least once over the next 12 months.“I don’t feel the market has sufficiently priced the risk from oil prices rising significantly,” said Ritesh Bhusari, joint general manager for treasury at South Indian Bank. He said swap rates could move higher if Brent crude remains above $80 per barrel over the coming weeks.Policy pause after earlier rate cutsThe Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee paused its easing cycle in February after cutting the policy repo rate by 125 basis points during 2025 to support economic activity.The panel is scheduled to hold its next policy review in about a month, when policymakers are expected to reassess the economic outlook amid continuing geopolitical tensions.The sources declined to be identified because they are not authorised to speak publicly about internal policy discussions. An email sent to the Reserve Bank of India seeking comment was not immediately answered.Energy supply disruptions raise concernsThe most immediate economic risk for India may stem from disruptions to natural gas supplies from the Middle East. Earlier this week, Indian companies reduced gas supplies to some industries in anticipation of tighter flows from the region.Such restrictions could affect output in sectors including fertilisers and power generation, which depend heavily on stable gas supplies.One of the sources said that if supply disruptions persist for more than four weeks, they could begin to affect economic growth for at least a quarter.The Middle East conflict has also complicated global monetary policy expectations. Traders have pushed back bets on interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve while increasing expectations of a potential rate hike by the European Central Bank.Analysts at Goldman Sachs said a sustained rise in oil prices above $100 per barrel or a faster transmission of energy costs into consumer prices could push global central banks toward a more hawkish stance.