TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Residents near the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) voiced their strong opposition regarding a proposed expansion of the institute at the public hearing held by the Taiwan Council for U.S. Affairs on Wednesday (July 12).
The council held a public hearing at the Qingbai Borough Community Center to explain the proposed plan for AIT's expansion. Heated comments erupted among residents, wardens, legislators, and Taipei City Councilors.
Some residents in the area fear that it would lead to more bars and nightlife establishments opening nearby, which could affect their quality of life. They wondered why they were never told of the plan.
Taipei City Councilor Yu Shu-hui questioned the decision and demanded the AIT explain why the original 6.5 hectares of land wasn't sufficient. "It's already over twice the size of the Executive Yuan," she said. Yu urged further discussions between AIT officials, residents, and the Taiwan government.
Taipei City Councilor Wu Shih-cheng commented, "The U.S. is important, our democratic allies as well. Besides, the U.S. is not our diplomatic ally." To which some residents shouted, "Establish diplomatic relations!"
AIT officials attended the event but didn't comment on the expansion and left early.
The land for the expansion was initially planned to be used for Neihu Junior High School's Jinhu campus. However, according to the Ministry of Education, another campus is no longer needed due to the lower birth rate.
The AIT said it would send more personnel to Taiwan and expressed hope to construct additional offices, storage space, leisure centers, and parking lots, which could help reinforce United States's commitment to Taiwan.
Former Taipei City Mayor Ko Wen-je reportedly wanted to discuss the possibility of using the land to build social housing between 2017 and 2018. But media reported that AIT worried the buildings' heights could expose AIT's interior.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jeff Liu said that the administrative procedures for changing public land use in Taiwan also apply to this case. "It is not treated differently because of the United States," he said.
