Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday told business leaders that her team has prepared extensive energy polices, including the formation of a Cabinet task force to avert any power shortage risks over the next few years.
Tsai made the remarks at her first large-scale discussion with the nation’s six major industrial groups, including the Chinese National Federation of Industries (工總) and the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association (電電公會).
Yesterday’s meeting was the first forum arranged by industrial groups to discuss insights about relations with China and economic policies with candidates of the three Jan. 16 presidential election tickets.
Photo: CNA
Of the 13 key issues of concern to local industries, how to maintain a stable supply of power topped the list, as Taiwan faces an imminent risk of power supply constraints next year, which could leave companies’ operations in dire condition.
Tsai said she did not expect the nation to suffer from power shortages over the next few years if state-run Taiwan Power Co (Taipower, 台電) can fully carry out its power capacity expansion plans.
A Taipower assessment said the nation could face power shortages, as the company estimates its reserve energy capacity could fall from an estimate of 10.4 percent this year to less than 10 percent of the nation’s needs at peak times next year.
“Our goal is to keep reserve energy capacity above 7.5 percent, which would help us avoid power rationing,” Tsai said.
It is critical for the government to manage power capacity, boost power efficiency, create “green” energy solutions and save energy, Tsai said.
If elected as the nation’s president, Tsai said that she plans to boost the government’s role in tackling energy problems by setting up a task force under the Cabinet.
The Environmental Protection Administration is currently in charge of drawing energy polices.
The task force would be responsible for making energy policies on cutting carbon emissions to meet global standards and reducing energy consumption during peak hours in summer, Tsai said.
The US reduced electricity consumption by 9.2 percent after it, in 2013, implemented electricity rates that favor energy use during off-peak hours and plans to further reduce power consumption by 20 percent by 2020, Tsai said.
The specially designated panel would be in charge of promoting “green” energy, such as solar power; liberalizing the electricity sector; and saving energy, she added.
Expanding the use of smart meters from industrial users to common households and increasing use of energy-efficient equipment and lighting would also be on her agenda, Tsai said.
Talking about her policies on cross-strait relations, Tsai said that she would keep “stable” ties with China.
“Maintaining the ‘status quo’ is my primary and most important direction,” Tsai said.
Taiwan is a democratic nation, Tsai said, adding that she would be following the public’s will by maintaining the “status quo,” without blending any political party’s ideology.
When tackling cross-strait issues, “we will try not to provoke [China]. We will try to communicate with [China]. We do not expect to see anything unexpected. We want to keep relations stable,” Tsai said.
ROLLER-COASTER RIDE: More than five earthquakes ranging from magnitude 4.4 to 5.5 on the Richter scale shook eastern Taiwan in rapid succession yesterday afternoon Back-to-back weather fronts are forecast to hit Taiwan this week, resulting in rain across the nation in the coming days, the Central Weather Administration said yesterday, as it also warned residents in mountainous regions to be wary of landslides and rockfalls. As the first front approached, sporadic rainfall began in central and northern parts of Taiwan yesterday, the agency said, adding that rain is forecast to intensify in those regions today, while brief showers would also affect other parts of the nation. A second weather system is forecast to arrive on Thursday, bringing additional rain to the whole nation until Sunday, it
CONDITIONAL: The PRC imposes secret requirements that the funding it provides cannot be spent in states with diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Emma Reilly said China has been bribing UN officials to obtain “special benefits” and to block funding from countries that have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a former UN employee told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. At a House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee hearing into “international relations within the multilateral system,” former Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) employee Emma Reilly said in a written statement that “Beijing paid bribes to the two successive Presidents of the [UN] General Assembly” during the two-year negotiation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Another way China exercises influence within the UN Secretariat is
LANDSLIDES POSSIBLE: The agency advised the public to avoid visiting mountainous regions due to more expected aftershocks and rainfall from a series of weather fronts A series of earthquakes over the past few days were likely aftershocks of the April 3 earthquake in Hualien County, with further aftershocks to be expected for up to a year, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. Based on the nation’s experience after the quake on Sept. 21, 1999, more aftershocks are possible over the next six months to a year, the agency said. A total of 103 earthquakes of magnitude 4 on the local magnitude scale or higher hit Hualien County from 5:08pm on Monday to 10:27am yesterday, with 27 of them exceeding magnitude 5. They included two, of magnitude
Taiwan’s first drag queen to compete on the internationally acclaimed RuPaul’s Drag Race, Nymphia Wind (妮妃雅), was on Friday crowned the “Next Drag Superstar.” Dressed in a sparkling banana dress, Nymphia Wind swept onto the stage for the final, and stole the show. “Taiwan this is for you,” she said right after show host RuPaul announced her as the winner. “To those who feel like they don’t belong, just remember to live fearlessly and to live their truth,” she said on stage. One of the frontrunners for the past 15 episodes, the 28-year-old breezed through to the final after weeks of showcasing her unique