Gelsinger Warns Taiwan Energy Crisis Could Roil Global Economy; Ministry Says Power Reserves Secure

Former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger recently warned publicly that a blockade of Taiwan would trigger a severe energy crisis, leaving semiconductor fabs vulnerable to power outages and requiring about 90 days to restart operations. He said the impact on the global economy would surpass that of the Great Depression of the 1930s. Given Taiwan’s pivotal role in global semiconductor and AI supply chains, his remarks immediately heightened concern over the island’s power stability and geopolitical risks.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs firmly rejected the warning on July 19, 2026, stressing that the island had kept semiconductor operations running steadily through numerous natural disasters and energy crises over the past 25 years. Taiwan Power Co. is also continuing its NT$564.5 billion grid resilience program and has incorporated demand from AI and semiconductor capacity expansion into its 10-year power plan to ensure a stable reserve margin in the years ahead.