Lai Ching-te Reaffirms Nuclear Policy Stance: Safety and Consensus Key for Taiwan

President Outlines Prerequisites for Any Nuclear Policy Shift Amidst Environmental Concerns.

Taipei, April 22 – President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) has reiterated his government's commitment to its nuclear power policy, emphasizing that any potential changes must prioritize safety and public agreement. This announcement was made on Tuesday during a meeting with environmental groups.

Lai stated that any shift away from the current policy, which aims to gradually phase out nuclear power in Taiwan (a policy established under the previous Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) administration), hinges on three essential prerequisites.

These prerequisites are: ensuring nuclear safety, establishing effective nuclear waste management solutions, and achieving a broad social consensus on the matter.

Furthermore, the government expressed an "open attitude toward new and advanced nuclear technologies" as it strives to ensure a steady energy supply and meet its net-zero emissions goal by 2050.

The President's remarks were delivered during a closed-door discussion with representatives from numerous environmental organizations, including the Taiwan Environmental Protection Union (TEPU) and the Taiwan Academy of Ecology.

Following the approximately three-hour talks, the Presidential Office released Lai's opening and concluding remarks.

Speaking at a subsequent news conference, TEPU Chairman Shieh Jyh-Cherng (謝志誠) praised Lai's comments, deeming them timely given the efforts of opposition parties to modify the present nuclear policy through legislative revisions.

Shieh's statement alluded to propositions advocating for the extended operation of Taiwan's operational nuclear reactor at the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant, as well as the reactivation of decommissioned facilities.

Simultaneously, Wang Hsing-chih (王醒之), secretary-general of the Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association, voiced concerns regarding the government's plans to procure more liquefied natural gas (LNG). He believes this could potentially lead to an expansion of LNG receiving terminals in Taiwan and subsequently increase carbon emissions.

Lai has committed to increasing LNG purchases from the U.S. to manage Taiwan's trade surplus with Washington. During the meeting with the NGOs, he highlighted the significance of these deals for Taipei's tariff negotiations with the Trump administration.