Taiwan's gov't faces antinukes opposition

March 13, 2013

Taiwan's Ma points to Japan as role model for nuclear energy

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201303130076

By TAKIO MURAKAMI/ Correspondent

TAIPEI--Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou is taking heat from opposition parties and environmentalists by repeatedly justifying his administration's commitment to nuclear energy by referring to Japan as a role model it can learn from.

Ma has argued that even Japan, which suffered the world's worst nuclear disaster in 25 years in 2011, is not planning to pull the plug on nuclear power.

"Following the Fukushima disaster, Japan stopped operating its nuclear reactors and that resulted in higher electricity rates," Ma told a meeting of his ruling Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) on March 10.

"Many Japanese companies said they may accelerate their relocation overseas. Following a change of government, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he will not stick to the (previous administration's) plan to pull out of nuclear power."

He went on to explain that Taiwan has no choice but to rely on atomic energy.

"Japan's experience in turning around its nuclear power policy very much deserves learning from," Ma said.

Taiwan currently has three nuclear plants, which account for 20 percent of the island's total electricity output. A national referendum is expected to be held soon on proceeding with construction of a fourth nuclear plant, which is shaping up to be a major battleground on the issue.

Anti-nuclear forces staged demonstrations on March 9, two days ahead of the second anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, which triggered the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. An estimated 200,000 people across Taiwan participated in the protests.

"The Fukushima nuclear accident has driven home to us that nuclear power is a very dangerous method for generating electricity," said one official with the Green Citizens' Action Alliance.

Media organizations close to the opposition bloc have published opinions critical of the government.