The Control Yuan yesterday censured the Executive Yuan, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Taiwan Power Co (Taipower) for the problem-ridden Fourth Nuclear Power Plant in Gongliao District (貢寮), New Taipei City (新北市), demanding that the government conduct a thorough investigation into the project due to concerns over its safety.
Control Yuan members said the decision to halt construction of the power plant in 2000 had caused serious delays to the project and that it led to unnecessary losses estimated at NT$187 billion (US$6.33 billion).
The Executive Yuan was charged with dereliction of duty for making the hasty decision to halt the construction with a total disregard of the consequences.
The then-Democratic Progressive Party government halted construction at the plant when it was 33.8 percent complete, plunging the country into political turmoil until the project was resumed after a suspension of 110 days.
Control Yuan members charged the ministry, the regulatory agency of the project, with failing to be receptive to views offered by construction professionals and electricity experts during the decisionmaking process.
Taipower, the operator of the nuclear power plant, was found to have failed to follow regular practices when terminating contracts with contractors.
Control Yuan members said the management at Taipower pandered to the government by telling contractors that their contracts had been terminated for an indefinite period the day the Executive Yuan decided to halt the project without calling an emergency board meeting.
Taipower did not even wait for the arrival of a government document terminating the contracts, the government watchdog said, adding the state-owned utility had ignored the interests of its shareholders and those of the public in the case.
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
A fourth public debate was held today about restarting the recently decommissioned Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant, ahead of a referendum on the controversial issue to be held in less than two weeks. A referendum on Aug. 23 is to ask voters if they agree that “the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant should continue operations upon approval by the competent authority and confirmation that there are no safety concerns.” Anyone over 18 years of age can vote in the referendum. The vote comes just three months after its final reactor shut down, officially making Taiwan nuclear-free. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) represented
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
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