With Taiwan's outlying island of Matsu going ahead with plans to buy water from China, Premier Yu Shyi-kun told the legislature yesterday that the nation had no need, as of yet, for water from abroad.
An attempt to explain the apparent contradiction in policy was put forth by Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Vice Chairman Chen Ming-tong (
As of press time, no request for approval had yet been made.
A delegation led by Matsu Commissioner Chen Hsueh-sheng (
A freighter hired to transport the water from Fujian left Kaoshiung yesterday, arrived in Matsu and is scheduled to head for Fujian today to pick up the water for delivery tomorrow.
Yu made his remarks at a legislative interpellation session in response to PFP lawmaker Lee Ching-hua's (
Yu said that the Cabinet had established the Drought Disaster Relief Center to keep track of the water shortages and that the need to purchase water from abroad does not yet exist.
As to whether the government would consider buying water from China, Yu said that according to his understanding, "China faces a drought as well."
Yu also said that he believed water supplies would hold until the end of May or the beginning of June.
MAC Vice Chairman Chen stressed that water supplies on Matsu are not yet critical. "Matsu's water supply should last at least one or two more months." He added, "The trial is a preparatory measure, as Matsu may at some point have the need to buy water from China."
But, he added, if Matsu or Kinmen want to purchase water from China, they would have to apply first.
According to local media reports, the 2,300 tonne Kinhang No.2 is expected to carry more than 2,000 tonnes of water into Matsu tomorrow.
Yang Su-yuan (
He added, "If necessary, the company would be more than willing to transport water to other areas of Taiwan."
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