Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday called for DPP members to participate in antinuclear demonstrations set to take place across the nation on Saturday.
“Four years ago, we witnessed — along with all of humanity — the price we have to pay for nuclear power. We have also witnessed since then the actions of many countries, who have, after self-reflection, made moves to speed up the development of alternative energy sources and the adjustment of their energy and industry policies, in order to be able to welcome the advent of a non-nuclear homeland sooner,” Tsai said, referring to the nuclear disaster that unfolded in Fukushima, Japan, following a tsunami in 2011. “Among all these actions, the DPP’s ‘2025 nuclear-free homeland’ is one.”
Tsai said that President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) has failed to pursue the goal of a nuclear-free Taiwan in the past few years, “while South Korea’s capital, Seoul, has launched a policy plan of ‘One Less Nuclear Power Plant’ and in merely two years cut energy consumption equivalent to the electricity generating capacity of a Fourth Nuclear Power Plant.”
Photo: Lo Pei-der, Taipei Times
“There is no reason for Taiwan to lag behind when a city has shown its resolve by carrying out actions,” she said.
Tsai called on the nation to initiate a similar plan and take action now, with the final goal being a nuclear-free Taiwan.
“The DPP is starting from the 13 cities and counties it governs, where energy saving, improving energy efficiency and promoting green energy will be approaches for weaning people from dependence on nuclear power,” she said. “We will also put forward a new energy policy and make progress toward the goal of a 2025 nuclear-free homeland when the party governs the country.”
Saturday’s antinuclear rallies, organized by the National Anti-Nuclear Action Platform, are to take place in Taipei, Kaohsiung, Tainan and Taitung.
“I’m officially issuing a mobilization order to the party for the 314 antinuclear rally, in which the party will be standing with the people of the nation for a future without fear,” Tsai said.
Hong Kong-based American singer-songwriter Khalil Fong (方大同) has passed away at the age of 41, Fong’s record label confirmed yesterday. “With unwavering optimism in the face of a relentless illness for five years, Khalil Fong gently and gracefully bid farewell to this world on the morning of February 21, 2025, stepping into the next realm of existence to carry forward his purpose and dreams,” Fu Music wrote on the company’s official Facebook page. “The music and graphic novels he gifted to the world remain an eternal testament to his luminous spirit, a timeless treasure for generations to come,” it said. Although Fong’s
China’s military buildup in the southern portion of the first island chain poses a serious threat to Taiwan’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply, a defense analyst warned. Writing in a bulletin on the National Defense and Security Research’s Web site on Thursday, Huang Tsung-ting (黃宗鼎) said that China might choke off Taiwan’s energy supply without it. Beginning last year, China entrenched its position in the southern region of the first island chain, often with Russia’s active support, he said. In May of the same year, a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) force consisting of a Type 054A destroyer, Type 055 destroyer,
Actor Darren Wang (王大陸) was questioned by prosecutors for allegedly orchestrating an attack on a taxi driver after he was allegedly driven on a longer than necessary route in a car he disliked. The questioning at the New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office was ongoing as of press time last night. Police have recommended charges of attempted murder. The legally embattled actor — known for his role in the coming-of-age film Our Times (我的少女時代) — is under a separate investigation for allegedly using fake medical documents to evade mandatory military service. According to local media reports, police said Wang earlier last year ordered a
Taiwan is planning to expand the use of artificial intelligence (AI)-based X-ray imaging to customs clearance points over the next four years to curb the smuggling of contraband, a Customs Administration official said. The official on condition of anonymity said the plan would cover meat products, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, large bundles of banknotes and certain agricultural produce. Taiwan began using AI image recognition systems in July 2021. This year, generative AI — a subset of AI which uses generative models to produce data — would be used to train AI models to produce realistic X-ray images of contraband, the official
RSS