In 2021, Taiwan experienced an unprecedented drought, one of the worst in over 50 years. Water shortages forced major semiconductor factories, the backbone of Taiwan’s economy and a key part of the global tech industry, to temporarily shut down (NPR). Moreover, farmers suffered severe losses as drought conditions devastated crops like mangoes, lychees, tea, oranges, and longans with an estimated $29.7 million USD economic losses (USDA). More than a million households and businesses were affected by water outages (Interconnected Disaster Risks). This evidently and painfully highlighted how vulnerable Taiwan’s water infrastructure was.
Hence, the government took measures to avoid climate crisis. First, the establishment of Western Corridor Water Supply Network allowed water to be redistributed more flexibly between different regions depending on need (Taipei Times). Second, expanded investments in reclaimed water systems and seawater desalination reduced dependence on rainfall. In addition, artificial lakes and tapping underground water sources were built for long-term storage of water as well.
For infrastructure improvement, reservoirs were dredged to increase capacity, and aging pipelines were replaced to reduce leakage.The Central Weather Administration took a further step by improving its drought monitoring and early warning systems using historical data, not only mitigating water crisis but also natural disasters (Interconnected Disaster Risks).
These efforts have marked a significant steps in Taiwan to build a resistant society, but as extreme weather events like floods, heatwaves, and typhoons are exacerbating every year,Taiwan needs to continue investing in infrastructure and climate adaptation. Preparing for climate security is no longer just an environmental issue, but about economic stability, public health, and national resilience and security.

Works Cited
Interconnected Disaster Risks. Taiwan Drought. United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security, 2022.
https://interconnectedrisks.org/2022/disasters/taiwan-drought
NPR. “Taiwan Makes Tough Decisions as It Faces Its Worst Drought in Nearly a Century.” NPR, 13 Apr. 2023.
https://www.npr.org/2023/04/13/1169462995
Taipei Times. “Drought, La Niña Caused Water Crisis, Experts Say.” Taipei Times, 15 July 2024.
https://www.taipeitimes.com
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Taiwan: Drought Results in Rice Area Reduction and Crop Loss. Foreign Agricultural Service, May 2021.
https://www.fas.usda.gov/data/taiwan-drought