President defends decision to scrap fourth nuclear plant

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday continued to defend the administration's decision to halt the construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, but urged the government's five branches to work together and handle the issue rationally.

Chen's comments yesterday were milder in contrast to recent remarks. He also said that Secretary-General to the Presidential Office Yu Shyi-kun would visit KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) to try to mend fences.

KMT members, and in particular Lien, were enraged by the decision to halt the power plant -- which was announced only 30 minutes after Lien spoke with Chen in a high-profile meeting to forge reconciliation between the president and the KMT.

Speaking at a special meeting last night of the heads of the five branches of government, Chen said that he had caused some misunderstanding in the wake of his Friday meeting with Lien and as a host should take responsibility for that.

"Since I was inaugurated I have devoted myself to working toward cross-party cooperation. I will continue with my efforts and I still expect I will have an opportunity to express my concerns to Lien personally," Chen said.

Chen also urged the government and individual party members to put aside personal interests and work together to solve the problem.

"I hope that the issue can be discussed much like a public policy issue debate and that all five branches of government will behave according to the constitution," Chen added during the meeting.

Wang Jin-pyng (王金平), speaker of the Legislative Yuan, refused to show up to the meeting, saying most lawmakers were opposed to his attendance.

"The Executive Yuan's unilateral announcement that construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant would be halted has created social instability ... and most lawmakers suggested that I boycott the meeting to maintain the dignity of the Legislative Yuan," Wang said.

While Chen softened his tone yesterday, he continued to express his support of the decision.

"We can't leave these difficult problems, such as the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant issue and cross-strait relations, to our next generation," Chen said yesterday morning during a reception.

"Therefore we have made a `decision of conscience,' which means that the new government will be responsible for Taiwan's next generation."

Chen added that he believed the dispute over the nuclear power plant would soon become like a "fleeting cloud."

At the same time, however, the Presidential Office said that it would respect lawmakers' rulings on the matter.

"If the Legislative Yuan amends the Budget Law or other laws related to national energy policies to proceed with the nuclear power plant construction, the president will absolutely respect the Legislative Yuan's final decision and will appeal to the Executive Yuan to accept it also," Deputy Secretary-General to the President Chen Che-nan (陳哲男) said yesterday during a weekly regular press conference.

He also explained that the announcement to halt the nuclear power plant was made only by the Executive Yuan.

The president "did not know when the premier would make the decision public," he said.