At the same time, Taiwan's crucial semiconductor industry – which produces the majority of the world's most advanced chips – has seen its power demands soar amid a global boom in artificial intelligence. Taiwan's largest chip manufacturer, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, accounted for around eight per cent of Taiwan's total electricity usage in 2023. As advanced chip production accelerates, that figure is projected to triple to 24 per cent by 2030. "Energy is the weakest element in Taiwan's resilience," said Mark Cancian from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies think-tank in Washington, who co-authored a war game in July that simulated a Chinese blockade of Taiwan. He added that it is crucial for Taiwan to ensure that its energy sources are resilient. At the media briefing, Lai said Taiwan is open to new nuclear power solutions on the condition that safety is assured, nuclear waste solutions are available, and that there is societal consensus.