Activists, Political Parties Rally Ahead of Taiwan's Nuclear Referendum

TaiwanPlus News

Taiwan People's Party Chair Huang Kuo-chang swept the streets of Taipei and Taichung on Friday, rallying support for a 'yes' vote on a referendum in support of recommissioning the country's last nuclear power plant. At the same time, anti-nuclear activists rallied in Taipei ahead of a larger march planned for Saturday. The debate over nuclear energy in the country has been long-fought, with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party completing its goal of a nuclear-free homeland by 2025, but the opposition Kuomintang and TPP seeking a return to nuclear energy due to national security concerns.

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00:00Opposition Taiwan People's Party leader Huang Guochang rides down the streets of New Taipei City,

00:12hoping to rally voters in support of a referendum to restart the country's last decommissioned

00:17nuclear power plant. Campaigns are ramping up just a week before the country votes

00:22on whether it supports restarting the Ma Anshan power plant in Pingdong County.

00:27And those in support say it's a battle for the country's energy security.

00:57The opposition Kuomintang and TPP say they're concerned about Taiwan's power supply in case

01:06of a threat from China. Nearly 98% of its energy is imported. But the country shut down its last

01:12nuclear power plant in May this year, meeting the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's target to

01:17phase out nuclear power by 2025. The DPP criticized the TPP chair for changing his mind on nuclear

01:24energy, which he used to oppose. President Lai Jingde previously said the nuclear issue is

01:29about science and safety, not politics.

01:32Some young anti-nuclear activists say that nuclear power must be phased out to make a safer future

01:51for Taiwan.

01:58Tensions between the parties and constituents may build up ahead of the referendum, which will be held

02:22alongside recall votes for seven KMT lawmakers on August 23rd. But while the referendum result is

02:28not binding, it's a strong measure of public opinion and public confidence in each party,

02:33a decision that could impact Taiwan's divided government.

02:37Luffy Lee, Alex Chen and Tiffany Wong for Taiwan Plus.

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