Members of a task force charged with reviewing the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant (
The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) established the 19-person team early this week under persistent pressure from anti-nuclear activists, who are demanding President Chen Shui-bian (
The group is composed of government representatives, academics, and industry members. Opponents of the project make up the majority of the task force members.
Four National Taiwan University professors -- Chang Kuo-lung (
"At the first meeting, we hope to discuss the rules of the game, including the order of the agenda and ways of participation," said Shih, a professor of chemical engineering who is also a former head of the Taiwan Environmental Protection Union.
Shih also said activists hoped to pass a resolution to broadcast the team's discussions in the future.
They also hope to rally officials who have been supportive of environmental activism in the past, Shih said.
"I'm sure that Environmental Protection Administration chief, Lin Jun-yi (
For many years now, the CEPD head has been on friendly terms with the DPP, which has long supported environmental issues in Taiwan.
Other task force members, who have expressed support for nuclear energy in the past, include Atomic Energy Council Chairman Hsia Der-yu (夏德鈺), industry representatives Wang Chung-yu (王鍾渝) from China Steel Corp (中鋼), Liao Pen-ta (廖本達) from Taiwan Power Company (Taipower), and professors Lee Min (李敏) from National Tseng Hua University, and Wu Tsai-yi (吳再益) from the Taiwan Research Institute.
Shih said Minister of Economic Affairs Lin Hsin-yi (
"We have not yet heard these two key persons' opinions on the project, so we're going to fight to bring them to our side" said Shih.
Shih said the MOEA suggested representatives from several government agencies attend the meeting to help answer any technical questions task force members may have.
But Shih expressed bewilderment at the fact that officials from the Department of Health, Council of Agriculture and Ministry of Transportation and Communications were not on the list to attend the meeting.
Shih said such agencies had much to do with nuclear energy issues, given its proven health risks, possible environmental impact, radioactive waste management, and emergency evacuation in case of an accident.
CALL FOR SUPPORT: President William Lai called on lawmakers across party lines to ensure the livelihood of Taiwanese and that national security is protected President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday called for bipartisan support for Taiwan’s investment in self-defense capabilities at the christening and launch of two coast guard vessels at CSBC Corp, Taiwan’s (台灣國際造船) shipyard in Kaohsiung. The Taipei (台北) is the fourth and final ship of the Chiayi-class offshore patrol vessels, and the Siraya (西拉雅) is the Coast Guard Administration’s (CGA) first-ever ocean patrol vessel, the government said. The Taipei is the fourth and final ship of the Chiayi-class offshore patrol vessels with a displacement of about 4,000 tonnes, Lai said. This ship class was ordered as a result of former president Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) 2018
UKRAINE, NVIDIA: The US leader said the subject of Russia’s war had come up ‘very strongly,’ while Jenson Huang was hoping that the conversation was good Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) and US President Donald Trump had differing takes following their meeting in Busan, South Korea, yesterday. Xi said that the two sides should complete follow-up work as soon as possible to deliver tangible results that would provide “peace of mind” to China, the US and the rest of the world, while Trump hailed the “great success” of the talks. The two discussed trade, including a deal to reduce tariffs slapped on China for its role in the fentanyl trade, as well as cooperation in ending the war in Ukraine, among other issues, but they did not mention
HOTEL HIRING: An official said that hoteliers could begin hiring migrant workers next year, but must adhere to a rule requiring a NT$2,000 salary hike for Taiwanese The government is to allow the hospitality industry to recruit mid-level migrant workers for housekeeping and three other lines of work after the Executive Yuan yesterday approved a proposal by the Ministry of Labor. A shortage of workers at hotels and accommodation facilities was discussed at a meeting of the legislature’s Transportation Committee. A 2023 survey conducted by the Tourism Administration found that Taiwan’s lodging industry was short of about 6,600 housekeeping and cleaning workers, the agency said in a report to the committee. The shortage of workers in the industry is being studied, the report said. Hotel and Lodging Division Deputy Director Cheng
‘SECRETS’: While saying China would not attack during his presidency, Donald Trump declined to say how Washington would respond if Beijing were to take military action US President Donald Trump said that China would not take military action against Taiwan while he is president, as the Chinese leaders “know the consequences.” Trump made the statement during an interview on CBS’ 60 Minutes program that aired on Sunday, a few days after his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) in South Korea. “He [Xi] has openly said, and his people have openly said at meetings, ‘we would never do anything while President Trump is president,’ because they know the consequences,” Trump said in the interview. However, he repeatedly declined to say exactly how Washington would respond in
RSS