Taiwan did have plutonium-related experiments several decades ago for the development of nuclear power, but none was about extracting plutonium as an ingredient for nuclear weapons, and the experiments were abandoned in the late 70s, the Atomic Energy Council (AEC) said yesterday, in response to a recent news report.
The Associated Press (AP) on Wednesday reported from Vienna that information from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) indicates Taiwan's plutonium separation experiments probably continued until about 20 years ago.
The AP attributed that finding to unnamed diplomats, whose information was based on preliminary samples taken in Taiwan by IAEA inspectors.
AEC officials yesterday said that the report was misleading.
"Several decades ago, Taiwan did carry out plutonium-related experiments in a bid to analyze the element's chemical characteristics," AEC Vice Chairman Yang Chao-yie (楊昭義) told the Taipei Times.
"At that time, scientists believed that the mixture of oxidized uranium and plutonium might be a possible fuel for nuclear power plants," Yang said.
Yang stressed that Taiwan's plutonium-related experiments were quite different from those involving plutonium separation, which can produce fissile material for nuclear weapons.
Yang said that plutonium-related experiments in Taiwan had been abandoned in the late 1970s, when then US president Jimmy Carter called for a total ban on the reprocessing of plutonium as fuel.
"Most facilities have been dismantled and two remaining gloveboxes [facilities used in plutonium experiments] will be destroyed in the near future," Yang said.
South Korea's revelation about its extracting a small amount of plutonium in the early 1980s might have motivated not only the IAEA but also other Western observers to keep their eyes on other Asian countries.
However, Taiwan has fully cooperated with IAEA inspectors and will continue to do so, Yang said.
"All nuclear related facilities in Taiwan are fully open to IAEA inspectors. They are welcome to make a check here any time," Yang said.
As of yesterday, the IAEA had not officially released its analysis on samples taken in Taiwan.
Local defense analysts said recent controversies about arms procurement involving a NT$610.8 billion weapon budget had been regarded as a possible sign of a cross-strait arms race in near future.
"It's logical for international political observers to ask if Taiwan, which is capable of developing nuclear weapons, would revive its past nuclear program in the near future due to increasing cross-strait tensions," Andrew Yang (
Although Taiwan is a not a party to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the nation is still under pressure from the international community, which is currently focused on both counterterrorism and halting the spread of weapons of mass destruction, Andrew Yang said.
In order to further ensure regional security in eastern Asia, influential Taiwanese influential political leaders, such as President Chen Shui-bian (
On Tuesday, Premier Yu Shyi-kun denied that Taiwan was developing nuclear weapons in response to questions from People First Party Legislator Nelson Ku (
"Is there a group of non-U.S. scientists working on nuclear weapons in Taiwan?" Ku asked. "Is there a five-person team, including active and past members from the current administration, planning the development of nuclear weapons?"
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