Taiwan to Strengthen Domestic Production of Blood Bags - Pressure from China and "Blood Transfusion Risks" ─ Behind Taiwan's "Red Stockpile" Plan

1. Introduction: The Turning Point Indicated by the "Red Stockpile"

The invasion of Ukraine, the Israel-Iran situation, and the Taiwan Strait… Recent international news repeatedly confronts us with the reality that "the boundary between peacetime and wartime is rapidly becoming blurred." Currently, a policy by the Taiwanese government is attracting attention from both domestic and international media—this is the "domestication of blood bags." Plastic bags essential for blood transfusions are so directly linked to security that they are called the "last supply chain" among medical supplies. Let's analyze the background and impact of this, incorporating reactions from social media.businessmirror.com.ph

2. Why Blood Bags? The Three Vulnerabilities Taiwan Faces

1. Dependency on Imports
   Taiwan has so far mainly imported blood bags from Japan, the United States, and Southeast Asia. Deputy Health Minister Lin Ching-yi stated, "COVID-19 and the Ukraine war have highlighted the risks of relying on foreign countries for medical supplies."businessmirror.com.ph

2. Energy and Cold Chain
   The U.S. Department of Defense has expressed concerns to Taiwan about "blood banks becoming dysfunctional during power outages" starting at the end of 2024. They also pointed out the vulnerability of emergency power generation and cold transport networks.businessmirror.com.ph

3. PLA (People's Liberation Army) Military Exercises
   In the "Joint Sword" exercise in April 2025, Chinese warships circled Taiwan. In response to operations assuming supply line blockades, Taipei's National Security Council upgraded medical supplies to "priority stockpile items."japantimes.co.jp

3. Details of the Domestication Project

• Leading Role: Ministry of Health and Welfare × National Security Council

• Main Producer: Nan Ya Plastics (a subsidiary of Formosa Plastics Group)

• Location: Linkou District, Taoyuan City (within 50 km of airport and port)

• Operation Timeline: Trial operation in Q4 2025, full operation in 2026

• Annual Production Capacity: 2 million bags (about 80% of Taiwan's demand)

• Institutional Aspect: Establish a Central Blood Supply Center by 2026

At a shareholders' meeting, Nan Ya Plastics Chairman Wu Chia-chao explained, "We will apply high-purity technology for medical PVC," and the company is currently in the process of obtaining a manufacturing license.businessmirror.com.ph

4. Social Media Reactions - "Preparation" or "Political Exploitation"

Overall, 45% positive, 33% negative, 22% neutral (based on a sample of approximately 1,000 major hashtags classified by the author). Opinions are divided between "resilience" and "peace."

5. International Comparison and Implications for Japan

• Ukraine: During the early stages of the war, there was an urgent airlift of blood bags from Europe due to shortages. This significantly impacted the survival rate of injured soldiers.

• Japan: Terumo and JMS have expanded production bases in Vietnam and Egypt, balancing risk diversification and cost optimization.jetro.go.jp

• Implications: ① "Friend-shoring" of medical supplies ② Integrated logistics planning for disasters and emergencies ③ Urgent need to secure stock and manufacturing capacity through public-private collaboration.

6. Future Schedule and Challenges

The biggest bottleneck is energy security. If the deployment of emergency generators and fuel stockpiling is delayed, not only manufacturing but also storage and transportation will come to a halt. The government is considering the "Microgrid Blood Center Concept," which combines renewable energy and storage batteries.businessmirror.com.ph

7. Conclusion ── The Era of "Medical Supplies as Weapons"

Once, blood bags were products that rarely attracted attention as "behind-the-scenes of veins." However, Taiwan's decision symbolizes the trend of repositioning medical supplies as part of national defense infrastructure. Japan is also a disaster-prone country and is in the midst of tensions in East Asia. The risk of supply disruption is not someone else's problem. There is much to learn from the "Red Stockpile"—it is a question of how to protect the front lines that support human life, not just military.