In Taiwan, authorities said on Friday they will keep electricity prices unchanged despite rising global energy costs driven by the Middle East conflict.
The decision was announced by the economy ministry following its regular March review of tariffs for state utility Taipower.
Officials said the move aims to stabilise consumer prices and protect industrial competitiveness amid external shocks, including higher fuel costs and shifting global trade conditions.
The government has been subsidising energy heavily to cushion households and businesses from imported inflation pressures.
Taiwan has managed to keep inflation below the central bank’s 2% alert threshold for ten consecutive months, a key policy priority.
As a global hub for advanced semiconductor manufacturing, the island is keen to shield its export-driven industries, especially those linked to artificial intelligence supply chains.
The central bank noted that the economic impact of the Middle East war will depend on its duration, scale and geographic spread, though growth is still expected to remain stable this year.
To mitigate supply risks, Taiwan has diversified its energy imports, increasing purchases of crude oil and liquefied natural gas from the United States and other sources.
Separately, Taipower has proposed restarting a recently shuttered nuclear power plant, pending approval from the Nuclear Safety Commission.
However, officials cautioned that even if approved, the facility would take up to two years to resume operations due to required safety inspections.