Following the disaster in Japan, Germany took the lead in closing down older nuclear power stations and many other countries have called a halt to the construction of new ones. Countries around the world are reconsidering their nuclear power policies and questioning whether they really need nuclear power in view of the risks. Non-nuclear policy proposals that have been set aside for years are being discussed once more.
In Taiwan, Tsai’s proposal for a nuclear-free homeland by 2025 is just a quiet reminder of a policy orientation that already exists in law. The question now is whether President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) will proceed in accordance with the law or ignore it?
Winston Dang is a former Environmental Protection Administration minister and chair professor at the Taipei Medical University College of Public Health, specializing in policy risk management.
TRANSLATED BY JULIAN CLEGG
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