Misquoting President Lai on Restarting Nuclear Power? Ho Tsung-hsun: The President Didn't Say That
Ho Tsung-hsun, convener of an environmental conference platform, clarified that he never stated President Lai Ching-te would restart nuclear power based on public opinion. He emphasized that President Lai only mentioned a DPP poll showing 60% public support for nuclear energy, but whether to restart it would be a professional decision based on three preconditions, thus clarifying erroneous media reports.
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- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 16:28
- 🔍 Collected: April 22, 2026 at 17:02 (33 min after Published)
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(Central News Agency, Taipei, 22nd) The environmental groups' meeting with the President concluded yesterday. Media reported, "Environmental conference platform convener Ho Tsung-hsun said President Lai will ultimately restart nuclear power based on public opinion." Ho stated today that the statement did not come from him, President Lai did not say so, nor did he hear anyone else say it.
Representatives from environmental groups of the 23rd "National NGOs Environmental Conference" met with the President yesterday. The United Daily News reported today that after the meeting, Ho Tsung-hsun said, "President Lai admitted the government is under great pressure and will now restart nuclear power according to law and procedure." It even further inferred, "President Lai will ultimately restart nuclear power based on public opinion."
Ho Tsung-hsun refuted this on his personal Facebook page today, pointing out two clear controversial points in the report, including "President Lai admitted the government is under great pressure" and "President Lai will ultimately restart nuclear power based on public opinion." He stressed that these two segments did not come from him, President Lai did not say so, and he did not hear anyone else say it.
Ho stated that at yesterday's press conference, he relayed President Lai's words that Taiwan's anti-nuclear movement reached the peak of social consensus following the Three Mile Island accident, the Chernobyl disaster, and Japan's Fukushima nuclear disaster. Former President Ma Ying-jeou legislated the nuclear power decommissioning schedule, and former President Tsai Ing-wen completed the decommissioning of the Third Nuclear Power Plant last year according to the law, officially making Taiwan a nuclear-free homeland. President Lai also mentioned that the nuclear-free homeland was an achievement written into the "Environmental Basic Act" with cross-party consensus between the blue and green camps, which he and some committee members were part of.
Ho mentioned that the development of green energy during the latter part of President Tsai's term was indeed not as smooth as expected; the promotion of natural gas was hindered, and solar and wind power also faced local opposition. In recent years, Taiwan's economic development has been faster than expected, with the rise of the AI industry leading to a simultaneous increase in electricity and low-carbon power demand. Coupled with geopolitical changes, energy issues have become more complex.
Ho pointed out that President Lai relayed the DPP's poll from last week, showing that 60% of the public supports nuclear energy. The Third Nuclear Power Plant is currently in the process of restarting procedures, but President Lai emphasized that whether it will be restarted will be decided by professionals based on three preconditions.
Ho stated that environmental groups, in their anti-nuclear stance, must also face the changes in public opinion. With the rise of Taiwan's AI industry and rapid economic development, electricity demand is rising, while green energy development is not as smooth as expected. At the same time, environmental groups also have opinions on natural gas and coal. Under this structure, how to re-convince society to support a "nuclear-free homeland" requires new strategies and narratives.
Ho reiterated his personal position that public opinion should be based on the referendum system. Although he is anti-nuclear, he respects the results of referendums and once again emphasized that he never said President Lai would restart nuclear power based on public opinion, nor did he make any policy conclusions on behalf of the president. (Editors: Chang Ya-ching, Chen Ching-fang) 1150422
Representatives from environmental groups of the 23rd "National NGOs Environmental Conference" met with the President yesterday. The United Daily News reported today that after the meeting, Ho Tsung-hsun said, "President Lai admitted the government is under great pressure and will now restart nuclear power according to law and procedure." It even further inferred, "President Lai will ultimately restart nuclear power based on public opinion."
Ho Tsung-hsun refuted this on his personal Facebook page today, pointing out two clear controversial points in the report, including "President Lai admitted the government is under great pressure" and "President Lai will ultimately restart nuclear power based on public opinion." He stressed that these two segments did not come from him, President Lai did not say so, and he did not hear anyone else say it.
Ho stated that at yesterday's press conference, he relayed President Lai's words that Taiwan's anti-nuclear movement reached the peak of social consensus following the Three Mile Island accident, the Chernobyl disaster, and Japan's Fukushima nuclear disaster. Former President Ma Ying-jeou legislated the nuclear power decommissioning schedule, and former President Tsai Ing-wen completed the decommissioning of the Third Nuclear Power Plant last year according to the law, officially making Taiwan a nuclear-free homeland. President Lai also mentioned that the nuclear-free homeland was an achievement written into the "Environmental Basic Act" with cross-party consensus between the blue and green camps, which he and some committee members were part of.
Ho mentioned that the development of green energy during the latter part of President Tsai's term was indeed not as smooth as expected; the promotion of natural gas was hindered, and solar and wind power also faced local opposition. In recent years, Taiwan's economic development has been faster than expected, with the rise of the AI industry leading to a simultaneous increase in electricity and low-carbon power demand. Coupled with geopolitical changes, energy issues have become more complex.
Ho pointed out that President Lai relayed the DPP's poll from last week, showing that 60% of the public supports nuclear energy. The Third Nuclear Power Plant is currently in the process of restarting procedures, but President Lai emphasized that whether it will be restarted will be decided by professionals based on three preconditions.
Ho stated that environmental groups, in their anti-nuclear stance, must also face the changes in public opinion. With the rise of Taiwan's AI industry and rapid economic development, electricity demand is rising, while green energy development is not as smooth as expected. At the same time, environmental groups also have opinions on natural gas and coal. Under this structure, how to re-convince society to support a "nuclear-free homeland" requires new strategies and narratives.
Ho reiterated his personal position that public opinion should be based on the referendum system. Although he is anti-nuclear, he respects the results of referendums and once again emphasized that he never said President Lai would restart nuclear power based on public opinion, nor did he make any policy conclusions on behalf of the president. (Editors: Chang Ya-ching, Chen Ching-fang) 1150422