Taipei: Taiwan’s Central Election Commission (CEC) is set to organize five nationally televised forums in August leading up to a referendum concerning the potential restart of the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant, as announced by CEC Chairperson Lee Chin-yung on Thursday.
According to Focus Taiwan, these forums are scheduled for August 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15. They may take the form of debates or explanatory presentations, contingent upon the negotiations between the opposing sides. The referendum, scheduled for August 23, 2025, poses the question to voters: “Do you agree that the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant should continue operations upon approval by the competent authority and confirmation that there are no safety concerns?”
The Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant’s No. 2 reactor, the last operational nuclear reactor in Taiwan, was decommissioned on May 17. The initiative to hold a referendum on its restart was proposed by the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) on April 18. The proposal successfully passed in the Legislature on May 20 with a 58-49 vote, supported by the main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), and the smaller opposition party, the TPP. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), however, opposed the proposal, adhering to its policy of a “nuclear-free homeland.”
In the televised sessions, the Legislative Yuan will represent the side supporting the motion, while the opposing side will be represented by either the Executive Yuan or a group registered under Article 20 of the Referendum Act, as stated by the CEC. Legislative Yuan Speaker Han Kuo-yu convened a cross-party negotiation on Thursday to finalize nominations for the sessions.
DPP caucus whip Ker Chien-ming suggested that the KMT and TPP manage the selections, a suggestion that was welcomed by KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi. TPP deputy caucus whip Chang Chi-kai proposed that one seat be allocated to the party-affiliated referendum office led by TPP caucus whip Huang Kuo-chan, with the remaining four seats decided in collaboration with the KMT. Han later announced that the KMT and TPP would each recommend two representatives, with the finalized list expected by July 11. The Legislative Yuan Conference Department will then submit the finalized list to the CEC by July 16.