Yao Chiang-lin: Tsai Told Me in 2006 to Complete Nuclear Power Plant No. 4 on Schedule

Yao Chiang-lin: Tsai Told Me in 2006 to Complete Nuclear Power Plant No. 4 on Schedule

Source: All Taipei Newspapers

April 1, 2011

Yao Chiang-lin, a director on the Board of Taiwan Power Labor Union, blasted Tsai Ing-wen, DPP chairwoman, currently on leave, for proposing to establish a nuclear-free homeland by 2025. Yao noted that Tsai had instructed Taipower to complete the construction of Nuclear Power Plant No. 4 on schedule without fail when she inspected the construction site in her capacity as Vice Premier on November 17, 2006.       

Yao Chiang-lin showed the press the minutes of a meeting held on November 17, 2006, when Tsai inspected the construction site of Nuclear Power Plant No. 4 in her capacity as Vice Premier of the Executive Yuan. Yao Chiang-lin reminded the press that Tsai had criticized the government's 18 percent preferential interest rate for retired public functionaries while at the same time taking full advantage of it, saying that once again Tsai's words and deeds were inconsistent.  

Yao stated that after inspecting the construction site, Tsai had given seven instructions, including "finish the construction of Plant No. 4 on schedule without fail." Moreover, Tsai convened an intra-ministry meeting on November 24 and instructed the Council of Labor Affairs to assist with every effort to complete Nuclear Power Plant No. 4 on schedule. In addition, she dispatched an additional workforce of 350 in a special project to make up for the shortage of manpower at the construction site. Yao pointed out Tsai's inconsistency in proposing a "nuclear-free homeland" after having actively aided the construction of Nuclear Power Plant No. 4.      

Asked about the fact that a "nuclear-free homeland" was stipulated in the "Basic Environment Act", Yao responded that the Act had been passed in 2002, but Tsai inspected Nuclear Power Plant No. 4 in 2006. Yao questioned why Tsai's criteria were different depending on whether or not she was in office.  

[Editor's Note: Tsai Ing-wen criticized the government's 18 percent preferential interest rate for retired public functionaries while at the same time receiving NT$730,000 (US$25,000) per year in interest payments. After a legislator exposed her double standards, Tsai announced that she would no longer take advantage of the preferential rate.]

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