President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday continued to defend the administration's decision to halt the construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, but urged the government's five branches to work together and handle the issue rationally.
Chen's comments yesterday were milder in contrast to recent remarks. He also said that Secretary-General to the Presidential Office Yu Shyi-kun would visit KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
KMT members, and in particular Lien, were enraged by the decision to halt the power plant -- which was announced only 30 minutes after Lien spoke with Chen in a high-profile meeting to forge reconciliation between the president and the KMT.
Speaking at a special meeting last night of the heads of the five branches of government, Chen said that he had caused some misunderstanding in the wake of his Friday meeting with Lien and as a host should take responsibility for that.
"Since I was inaugurated I have devoted myself to working toward cross-party cooperation. I will continue with my efforts and I still expect I will have an opportunity to express my concerns to Lien personally," Chen said.
Chen also urged the government and individual party members to put aside personal interests and work together to solve the problem.
"I hope that the issue can be discussed much like a public policy issue debate and that all five branches of government will behave according to the constitution," Chen added during the meeting.
Wang Jin-pyng (
"The Executive Yuan's unilateral announcement that construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant would be halted has created social instability ... and most lawmakers suggested that I boycott the meeting to maintain the dignity of the Legislative Yuan," Wang said.
While Chen softened his tone yesterday, he continued to express his support of the decision.
"We can't leave these difficult problems, such as the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant issue and cross-strait relations, to our next generation," Chen said yesterday morning during a reception.
"Therefore we have made a `decision of conscience,' which means that the new government will be responsible for Taiwan's next generation."
Chen added that he believed the dispute over the nuclear power plant would soon become like a "fleeting cloud."
At the same time, however, the Presidential Office said that it would respect lawmakers' rulings on the matter.
"If the Legislative Yuan amends the Budget Law or other laws related to national energy policies to proceed with the nuclear power plant construction, the president will absolutely respect the Legislative Yuan's final decision and will appeal to the Executive Yuan to accept it also," Deputy Secretary-General to the President Chen Che-nan (
He also explained that the announcement to halt the nuclear power plant was made only by the Executive Yuan.
The president "did not know when the premier would make the decision public," he said.
Typhoon Usagi yesterday had weakened into a tropical storm, but a land warning issued by the Central Weather Administration (CWA) was still in effect in four areas in southern Taiwan. As of 5pm yesterday, Tropical Storm Usagi was over waters 120km south-southwest of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), the southernmost tip of Taiwan proper, and was moving north at 9kph, CWA data showed. The storm was expected to veer northeast later yesterday. It had maximum sustained winds of 101kph, with gusts of up to 126kph, the data showed. The CWA urged residents of Kaohsiung, Pingtung County, Taitung County and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春) to remain alert to
ONE LAST TALK: While Xi said that Taiwan was a ‘red line,’ Biden, in what is likely his last meeting with Xi as president, called for an end to China’s military activity around Taiwan China’s military intimidation and economic coercion against Taiwan are the main causes of tensions that are destabilizing peace in the Taiwan Strait, Taipei said yesterday while thanking US President Joe Biden for expressing Washington’s firm stance of maintaining peace and stability in the region. Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) met on Saturday for their third meeting and their first talks in seven months on the sidelines of the APEC forum in Lima, Peru. It was likely Biden’s last meeting as president with Xi. During their conversation, Biden reiterated the US’ opposition to any unilateral change to the “status quo” from either
Taiwan would participate in the 2026 APEC summit to be hosted by China after Beijing promised it would ensure the personal safety of attendees, Taiwanese national security sources said yesterday. The APEC Leaders’ Machu Picchu Declaration announced yesterday said that China would host the APEC summit in 2026. Beijing proposed hosting the summit shortly before this year’s gathering began on Friday, a national security official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Many APEC members expressed concerns about China hosting the event and said that prior communication over the decision was insufficient, the official said. Taiwan brought up concerns about legal “guidelines” China announced in
MEET AND GREET: The White House, which called the interaction ‘just a handshake,’ did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether Biden planned to visit Taiwan’s envoy to the APEC summit, Lin Hsin-i (林信義), on Friday invited US President Joe Biden to visit Taiwan. During the APEC Leaders’ Informal Dialogue, Lin, who represented President William Lai (賴清德) at the summit, spoke with Biden and expressed gratitude to the outgoing US president for his contribution to improving bilateral ties between Taipei and Washington over the past four years, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Lin and Biden exchanged views during the conversation, with Lin extending an invitation to Biden to visit Taiwan, it said. Biden is to step down in January next year, when US president-elect Donald Trump is
RSS