Democratic Progressive Party Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday urged the central government to consider residents when planning large development projects, such as the Taoyuan Aerotropolis project, during a visit to the Taoyuan City Government yesterday.
“When making development plans, the central government should consider not only the balance in regional development, but also the strategic position of Taoyuan in Taiwan’s economic development. It should respect the opinions of the local government and the public, while effectively using financial resources,” Tsai said in response to questions about the controversial project and a railroad reconstruction project after a meeting behind closed doors with local opinion leaders in Taoyuan yesterday.
The Taoyuan Aerotropolis is a project to develop commercial and residential areas, as well as a free economic pilot zone, around Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.
The project has been steeped in controversy and triggered fierce opposition from local residents, as it requires the expropriation of more than 3,000 hectares of private land housing about 46,000 people, making it the largest eviction plan in the nation’s history.
The railroad reconstruction project was initiated by the Taiwan Railways Administration to move tracks that run through Taoyuan’s above ground.
However, most local residents prefer that the railroad remain underground.
Moreover, as Taoyuan was administratively upgraded to a special municipality in December last year, Tsai said now is a good time to draw up a plan for the development of the city, adding that once she is elected, the central government would not withhold resources to help.
“Taoyuan is the newest special municipality in the nation, with the youngest population and is Taiwan’s gateway with Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport,” Tsai said. “In such a fast-developing city, it is important to have full support from the central government, and the gap between rural and urban areas should be minimized.”
Tsai said that she is prepared to assist Taoyuan in its development for better public services and infrastructure if she is elected president next year.
In contrast, during a later visit to Hsinchu, Tsai said that, with its prosperous IT industry, Hsinchu has become a “comfortable city to live in.”
However, as many young people have their hands full with work, meaning that childcare could be a problem, Tsai urged Hsinchu Mayor Lin Chih-chien (林智堅) to be a “considerate mayor” and give parents a hand with childcare so that they have less things to worry about at work.
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