China's increasingly frequent military drills around Taiwan have raised concerns on the island over its energy security.

The self-governing democracy, which lies just 100 miles (160 kilometers) off the coast of mainland China, relies heavily on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and energy imports — making it particularly vulnerable to a marine blockade.

"Energy would be Beijing's first target [in case of a blockade or invasion]," James Yifan Chen, a professor of diplomacy and international relations at Tamkang University in Taiwan, told DW.

In the latest exercises in early April, China's military simulated blockade operations around vital shipping lanes near the island. The drills also simulated live-fire strikes on ports and energy facilities.

"LNG ships would find it hard to arrive in Taiwan," Chen explained. "People would run out of power and water, as the water supply is powered by electricity. Communication is based on electricity and the military would not be able to function," he added.

In that case, the expert believed that Taiwan would be left with little to no outside help with its energy supply due to its geographic and........

© Deutsche Welle