NEW TAIPEI (TVBS News) — New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih voiced his endorsement of nuclear power as a means to prevent power shortages in Taiwan on Monday (May 29), condemning the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for its inability to fulfill its promise of making Taiwan nuclear-free by 2025.
The presidential candidate from the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) addressed the DPP's policy of creating a "nuclear-free homeland" by increasing the proportion of renewable energy sources to 20%.
He emphasized the impracticality of achieving this target and stressed his commitment to nuclear safety and proper disposal of nuclear waste if elected.
Highlighting the significance of averting an energy crisis, Mayor Hou stressed the need to include nuclear power as part of Taiwan's energy supply sources, aligning the country's energy mix with global trends.
The mayor's remarks come in response to comments made by DPP Vice President William Lai on Sunday. Vice President Lai unveiled that relevant units are devising plans for the potential reactivation of currently shut-down nuclear generators in the event of a future emergency.
Vice President Lai's statement contradicts the DPP's objective of phasing out nuclear power by 2025, a contentious issue that has long been a disagreement between the two political parties.
