Following a request by Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (
Negotiations broke down last Tuesday when both sides were unable to agree on how the debate over the plant should be resolved.
The Legislative Yuan called for an immediate resumption of the project before negotiations could continue. The Cabinet, however, insisted that negotiation was the means by which both sides could hammer out an agreement over resuming the construction of the plant.
"The opposition's present stance is the immediate resumption of the project, `with each side having its own interpretation' (一個復工,各自表述)," New Party lawmaker Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆) quipped yesterday.
Tseng Yung-chuan (
"The opposition has continuously demanded that the ruling DPP restart construction. The problem at the moment lies in the differing views between the Presidential Office, the executive branch and DPP headquarters. Only the Cabinet is entitled to decide on a time to pick up the project. The ball is in the court of the Cabinet," Tseng said.
Addressing a statement made by the Executive Yuan on Feb. 6 in response to the opposition's position, Lai said the only point at issue concerned the Executive Yuan's agreement to implement the unfinished budgetary bill slated for the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant after negotiation and mediation by the president.
"[Opposition lawmakers] do not think the president is entitled to mediate any legal disputes, so we insist the wording has to be changed," Lai said.
In response, Government Information Office director Su Tzen-ping (
Philip Yang (
Yang added that the upcoming meeting between People First Party chairman James Soong (
"It seems Soong is more likely to compromise over the issue given that the PFP is a minority party within the legislature. The forthcoming meeting should be critical."
Yang said that whether the president will be able to create an environment for negotiation was also pivotal.
"The continual remarks made by the two sides are of no use to end the contention. The president should come forward to ease the tension and create a friendly atmosphere for negotiation," Yang said.
Taiwan’s Lee Chia-hao (李佳豪) on Sunday won a silver medal at the All England Open Badminton Championships in Birmingham, England, a career best. Lee, 25, took silver in the final of the men’s singles against world No. 1 Shi Yuqi (石宇奇) of China, who won 21-17, 21-19 in a tough match that lasted 51 minutes. After the match, the Taiwanese player, who ranks No. 22 in the world, said it felt unreal to be challenging an opponent of Shi’s caliber. “I had to be in peak form, and constantly switch my rhythm and tactics in order to score points effectively,” he said. Lee got
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