In response to anti-nuclear rallies staged today by civic groups, Executive Yuan Spokesperson Sun Lih-chyun said the government fully understands and respects diverse voices from the people, and hopes to continue the public dialogue about Taiwan's future in a rational fashion.
According to estimates by the National Police Agency, around 32,000 people took to the streets nationwide, 22,000 of whom were in Taipei City. The demonstrations proceeded peacefully with rallies still ongoing at Ketagalan Boulevard as of press time.
The Executive Yuan will continue demanding the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Atomic Energy Council to apply the most rigid safety standards to inspecting the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, or Lungmen Nuclear Power Plant, in New Taipei City's Gongliao District, Sun stressed. He added that the government's position continues to be "no nuclear power without nuclear safety."
"Using various communication channels, the government will provide a full range of information on energy and nuclear power to help dispel the public's fear of nuclear power and accidents similar to that at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi plant. Such knowledge will enable people to understand Taiwan's energy options, come to a consensus and make the right decision," he assured.
Taiwan relies on imports for 98 percent of its energy demands, the spokesperson pointed out. From the perspective of energy self-sufficiency, safety, stability and diversity of resources, it cannot give up on any form of energy at this point. The government should also assess the effects of different combinations of energy resources on the nation's power supplies.
Considering the significant impact of climatic change on the environment, the government must also think about the need for low-carbon clean energy, noted Sun. "Our goal is to steadily decrease Taiwan's reliance on nuclear power without imposing power limitations, maintain reasonable electricity prices, and fulfill our carbon-reduction commitments," he said.
After the Fukushima disaster in Japan, the ROC government proposed a policy to ensure nuclear power safety, reduce reliance on nuclear energy, and ultimately build a green, low-carbon and nuclear-free homeland, Sun said. In recent years, efforts have been made to increase the capacity of renewable energy, with the objective of setting up over 1,000 land-based and offshore wind power turbines and more rooftop solar-panel units across the country.
Due to daily weather variations, however, neither wind nor solar power is as stable and continuous as thermal or nuclear resources at present. Several major thermal and nuclear power plants are also expected to be phased out over the next 10 years. The Fourth Nuclear Power Plant can buy the nation more time to develop alternative sources of renewable energy so that Taiwan can eventually become nuclear-free, Sun stated.
Sun reiterated that building a nuclear-free homeland is the ultimate goal, but before that happens, the government must be mindful of national economic development, energy demand and other factors. Efforts must be made to prevent power shortage or limitations, minimize the impact of high electricity prices on businesses and households, and prevent unemployment and offshoring of jobs. Whatever decision is made in the end about the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, the government respects the public's view on nuclear power in light of the Fukushima accident and will demand the highest safety standards for the power plant's operations.