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Taiwan mulling nuclear safety mechanism with China

ROC Central News Agency

2011/03/17 21:43:07

By Lin Shu-yuan and Christie Chen

Taipei, March 17 (CNA) Taiwan's Atomic Energy Council has started internal discussions on whether to establish a mechanism with China that would allow the two sides to notify each other in case of nuclear disasters, an official of the Cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said Thursday.

MAC Deputy Minister Liu Te-shun's remarks echoed those of Minister of Economic Affairs Shih Yen-shiang made earlier in the day when responding to questions about local concern over the safety of China's nuclear energy plan. Shih also said the government hopes to enhance cooperation with China over nuclear safety issues.

The concern was sparked by the nuclear disaster at Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant following the March 11 magnitude 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami, which has eroded confidence in nuclear energy around the world.

China is planning to build 13 nuclear plants along its southeastern coast in the future, said Tsai Der-sheng, director-general of the National Security Bureau. Therefore, according to Tsai, nuclear plants in China could pose a greater threat to Taiwan compared with those in Japan.

The issue of China's nuclear safety is worrying, as some of the nuclear plants there are situated less than 200 km from Taiwan, said ruling Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Ting Shou-chung.

In response to the legislator's concern, Shih pledged to treat the issue with the utmost care.

The minister also said the government will strengthen its cooperation with China in the field of disaster prevention, adding that the two sides could use the platform of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum to share information on disaster prevention.