Premier signals Taiwan may shift from nuclear-free policy
日本總理暗示台灣可能放棄無核政策
| TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said Wednesday that Taiwan will actively engage with emerging nuclear technologies, remarks that could signal a shift from the DPP’s long-standing nuclear-free policy.
Speaking at a groundbreaking ceremony for a new semiconductor research facility, Cho said the government aims to ensure stable and sufficient energy supplies to support industrial growth, per UDN. In addition to expanding diverse renewable energy sources, Taiwan will also “fully engage” with emerging nuclear technologies worldwide, he said. Regarding conventional nuclear power, Cho said the government would evaluate the issue based on safety, the availability of appropriate nuclear waste disposal sites, and public consensus. He added that “power equates to computational power, and computational power is a nation’s strength.” Cho’s remarks suggest a possible adjustment to the DPP’s anti-nuclear stance. Under former President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), Taiwan phased out nuclear power, with the country’s last reactor ceasing operations in 2025. Tsai had pledged an energy mix of 50% natural gas, 30% coal, and 20% renewable energy by 2025, but Taiwan failed to meet that target, per The Reporter. Environmental groups and former officials expressed concern over Cho’s comments. Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association lawyer Tsai Ya-ying (蔡雅瀅) said small modular reactors (SMRs) have not yet matured technologically and warned that Taiwan should not become a testing ground, per UDN. Given the potentially devastating consequences of nuclear accidents, she said broader discussion should wait until the technology is more established. Former Hakka Affairs Council Minister Yang Chang-jen (楊長鎮) called on the Cabinet to provide a comprehensive explanation of its position on emerging nuclear energy, per UP Media. He questioned whether issues such as nuclear waste disposal, the difficulty of securing final storage sites, and the proximity of reactors to population centers have been resolved. Yang also questioned whether the government remains committed to Tsai’s policy goals, including a nuclear-free homeland and social housing initiatives. The NPP has accused the administration of scaling back its social housing goals, particularly by abandoning new construction plans Opposition lawmakers welcomed the shift in tone. KMT Legislator Ko Ju-chun (葛如鈞) said he supports Cho’s openness to SMRs, noting that the KMT had urged the government in 2024 to be more receptive to the technology, per ETtoday. At the time, he said, the government rejected the proposal, citing the immaturity of SMRs, high costs, and the lack of waste reduction benefits. Ko also questioned the practical impact of Cho’s remarks, noting that the Nuclear Safety Commission has not allocated a budget for emerging nuclear technologies. National Tsing Hua University Professor Yeh Tsung-kuang (葉宗洸), a longtime advocate of nuclear energy, suggested amending the Electricity Act to allow the installation of SMRs for self-use, per China Times. He added that procuring nuclear technology through a US-Taiwan trade framework could both meet US expectations and enhance Taiwan’s energy diversification and security. |
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| Medwin Hsu Taiwan News, Staff Writer | |
| 2026-02-12 |
