I find this "insanity" quite hilarious. The historical perspective is that a water guzzling foundry isn't going to make a dent to rice production, surprised that any alarm is being raised. Always happy to hear people give a shit about Taiwan though!

I'll use a historical context, US food aid going to Republic of China (1940-1965) shifted the entire Taiwanese diet from rice to flour. (rice farmers still survived) The Republic of China came to the former Japanese colony Taiwan in 1945 where the diet was mostly rice (and yams). Taiwan produced a lot of rice because the Japanese built a vast irrigation system to pull water from the mountains down to the plains to maximize rice production during their colonial rule.

The island of Taiwan exported so much rice to China during the waning years of the Chinese Civil War (coupled with hyperinflation 1947). It was a tough time with millions of refugees and soldiers retreating to the island. Lots of civil unrest.

The US came in with the World Food Program to help out those transition years, it was mostly flour （also canned meats, milk powder).

The Republic of China regime then had a bunch of flour that Taiwanese had no demand for and rice was getting back on the menu. At the time Taiwan was under martial law and mandates were made to consume flour over rice to keep the US Aid flowing. Schools started mandating that school meals had to have bread and milk (powder).

Breakfast shops started selling sandwiches instead of rice congee.

Flour-based Noodles and dumplings became promoted. US Aid was seen and used at every opportunity.

Basically its the story of Minced Pork Rice and Beef Noodle Soup

Both delicious! I forget what I was trying to say🤣 . Do consider visiting and trying both!