I respectively call on President Chen to recall those historical decisions on September 30, and October 27, 2000. The DPP government judged that canceling the construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant would be wise from the point of economics, that such a decision would not result in electricity shortage, that the country would develop sustainable safe energy, that there is no way to dispose of nuclear waste. Chen and DPP government thereby declared that the construction of the power plant would be cancelled for the sake of the people of Taiwan and future generations.
Now it looks as if they are about to turn their backs on their own judgement, bending to pressure from the KMT.
Chen and the DPP government should once again reflect on the fact why the leading nuclear reactor manufacturers are Toshiba and Hitachi, instead of GE. In the US, no order has been placed for new nuclear reactors since 1979 and it is fair to say that the American nuclear industry has declined to such an extent that it is no longer capable of exporting nuclear reactors. This is not the only reason, however, why Toshiba and Hitachi are involved in the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant project; the Japanese nuclear industry, too, is suffering setbacks.
Although Japan is planning to build an additional 20 reactors in the coming 10 years, no one believes residents will allow this expansion. The Japanese nuclear industry, therefore, is looking overseas. Apart from Taiwan, it has attempted to advance its business to other Asian countries.
But so far it has all been in vain. The Japanese tried to export reactors to Indonesia, but this was halted by the Jakarta government. They also tried to do business in Turkey but gave up when the Turkish government wisely stopped the construction of new nuclear plants in July 2000, after a terrible earthquake. Now the industry is aiming at Vietnam.
Facing difficulty in finding a domestic solution for nuclear waste, Taipower (台電) has been negotiating with North Korea to ship its low-level radioactive waste there. The company is also looking into the possibility of transferring its spent nuclear fuel to Russia for final storage (meaning disposal).
The export of radioactive contamination is, however, against humanity -- moreover it is internationally acknowledged as an impermissible activity. For example, the South East Asia Nuclear-Free Zone Treaty bans the transfer and disposal of radioactive waste beyond national boundaries, since it is a selfish rationale to allow other countries to be contaminated in efforts to avoid contaminating one's own country.
The DPP, which has long fought for the people against the oppression of the KMT must not allow such discreditable behavior.
When I had a chance to meet residents of Kungliao, they assured to me that Chen would never break his promise.
If the DDP turns its back to the people and goes ahead with the construction of the power plant, then it would inevitably lead to the decline of the party. On the day when the decision to stop it was announced, I was actually visiting in Taipei and deeply impressed.
Germany's decision for a specific nuclear phase-out plan established the path for nuclear phase-out in Europe. I believe the path for nuclear phase-out in Asia will be set by Taiwan. The nuclear age in essence was concluded in the 20th century.
Chen and the DPP government absolutely must not bend to the pressure of the KMT and the nuclear industry, and instead must lead Asia into a nuclear-free age.
Hideyuki Ban is co-director of the Citizens' Nuclear Information Center in Tokyo, Japan.
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