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.

ReutersThe dispute highlights deepening political divisions in Taiwan over military spending and defence preparedness at a time of rising security pressure from China and growing calls from the United States for the island to strengthen its defences.Speaking to reporters in Taipei, Defence Minister Wellington Koo said the opposition-backed plan would impose restrictions that would effectively halt several planned weapons programmes. The government’s proposal includes systems such as precision artillery and anti-armour unmanned platforms designed to strengthen Taiwan’s asymmetric defence strategy. Reuters“If everything is required to be delivered and fully implemented before that deadline, it would in effect shut down these projects, making their execution impossible,” Koo said.Budget dispute in parliamentThe main opposition Kuomintang (KMT), which holds parliamentary influence alongside smaller parties, has advanced a counterproposal that caps spending at about T$380 billion ($11.96 billion) roughly one-third of the funding sought by the government.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te had proposed a significantly larger defence package aimed at strengthening the island’s deterrence against Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its territory and has increased military pressure in recent years. Opposition lawmakers say their proposal reflects the need for stricter legislative scrutiny of defence spending. The KMT has argued that procurement through commercial channels could be vulnerable to irregularities and has called for weapons purchases to focus primarily on government-to-government agreements with Washington.Koo rejected that approach, warning that excluding certain acquisition channels would create gaps in Taiwan’s defence capabilities and undermine efforts to strengthen joint operational readiness.He added that the government’s proposal has the backing of both the U.S. administration and members of Congress.U.S. pressure and security concernsWashington, Taiwan’s most important security partner and arms supplier, has repeatedly urged Taipei to accelerate defence reforms and increase spending to counter mounting military pressure from Beijing.

Taiwan NewsThe political standoff in the legislature has raised concerns among U.S. policymakers that delays could slow Taiwan’s acquisition of key defence systems intended to improve its ability to repel a potential attack.China regularly conducts military exercises around Taiwan and has refused formal dialogue with Lai, whom Beijing labels a separatist. Lai has rejected the claim and says only Taiwan’s people can decide the island’s future. Cross-strait diplomacy adds political tensionThe budget dispute has also unfolded alongside sensitive cross-strait political developments.Senior figures in the KMT have said the party remains in contact with the Chinese Communist Party and are working toward a potential visit to China later this year. KMT leaders have expressed hope that such a trip could include a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The prospect of political engagement with Beijing has drawn scrutiny from some Taiwanese officials and analysts, who say defence policy and cross-strait relations are becoming increasingly intertwined in domestic politics.For now, negotiations over the defence spending package remain unresolved in parliament, leaving the scale and timeline of Taiwan’s planned military procurement uncertain.