Approximately 200,000 people joined Taiwan's anti-nuclear protest on March 9, 2013. Some statistics showed that 50-60% of people surveyed were against using nuclear power to generate electricity. According to Premier Jiang Yi-huah of the Executive Yuan, if experts conclude that operating the fourth nuclear power plant (Nuke 4) is unsafe, the government will give up on the project and will not open the plant.
The first set of equipment for Nuke 4 is close to the final stages of installation and is waiting a safety inspection. Nuclear fuel can be inserted immediately. However, after the protests, the Executive Yuan announced all construction has been temporarily halted, except for work that is outsourced or any related to the safety of the plant. In addition, the additional construction budget of NT$11.7 billion (US$393 million) requested by Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) will be put aside for now and evaluated once the plant passes safety inspections, and a referendum regarding construction of the plant is completed.
Premier Jiang noted that the inspection will be conducted by the Atomic Energy Council (AEC) with the assistance of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
Premier Jiang added that the Executive Yuan believes the AEC (under the Executive Yuan) has the ability to ensure the safety of nuclear power plants, but if experts believe Nuke 4 is unsafe, construction will be suspended and the project will be abolished, and no referendum will be needed. If the experts believe the plant is safe but the result of the referendum indicates that most people are against the commissioning of Nuke 4, then the government will not commission the plant, said Premier Jiang.
The dispute over Nuke 4 was not as heated before. For example, 10 years ago, 50% of people surveyed supported construction of the plant while 20% were against it. But after the March 11, 2011, earthquake in Japan, the number of people against the construction of Nuke 4 increased significantly.
Anti-nuclear groups had five demands – stop adding to the budget for construction, stop fueling Nuke 4, decommission Taiwan's three operating plants, remove nuclear waste from Orchid Island, and provide policies to suit the target of zero growth in electricity use.
Through negotiations between members of Taiwan's ruling and opposition parties, the Legislative Yuan concluded on February 26, 2013, that before the results of the referendum, the government would not increase the budget for construction, and not insert nuclear fuel in Nuke 4.
