“From Nuclear Onwards” — TPP’s 823 Referendum Exhibition Calls for 5 Million Votes

From August 9 to 22, 2025, the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Taipei City Chapter will host the From Nuclear Onwards: 823 Nuclear Power Plant No. 3 Life Extension Referendum Exhibition at the Zhen Shan Mei Plaza near Exit 6 of Ximending MRT Station. Through infographics, lectures, and debates, the exhibition fully presents the necessity of extending the life of Nuclear Plant No. 3. WHO tobacco harm reduction expert Yu-Yang Wang urges the public to express their opinion in the August 23 referendum by casting their votes, aiming for over 5 million votes to send a clear message to the government about the urgent demand for “safe, affordable, and stable” electricity.

Exhibition Focus: Energy Crisis and Policy Solutions

The exhibition features ten Q&A sections addressing common public concerns about nuclear energy and presents the TPP’s five core energy policy proposals: conditional use of natural gas, gradual phase-out of coal-fired plants, expansion of low-environmental-impact renewable energy, resolving Taipower’s deficits and the electricity price crisis, and implementing the “generation, transmission, storage, and conservation” strategy to stabilize power supply.

The exhibition points out that Taiwan faces five major energy crises: insufficient nighttime reserve capacity, severe air pollution from thermal power generation, delays in new plant construction, heavy dependence on imported natural gas, and the loss of international competitiveness due to the nuclear phase-out. The TPP believes extending Nuclear Plant No. 3 is the key to filling the supply gap, reducing electricity prices, and improving air quality, emphasizing that nuclear fuel can be stored for 18–36 months, compared to only 14 days for natural gas.

Two Weeks of Energy Forums and Debates

To help the public better understand the facts about nuclear energy, the exhibition will host a series of lectures and “Core Debate” sessions with the following speakers and hosts:

• Aug 9 (Sat) 8:00 PM
  From Nuclear Onwards – The Past and Present of Nuclear Power Generation
  Speaker: Prof. Min Li (Distinguished Professor, National Tsing Hua University)
  Host: Chien-Ching Hsu
• Aug 10 (Sun) 4:00 PM
  Your Nuclear Teacher (Anti-Nuclear Q&A and Myth-Busting)
  Speaker: Alex Chao (Admin of “Ge Lao Electric Power Company” Facebook page)
  Host: Joan
• Aug 10 (Sun) 8:00 PM
  Core Debate – Affordable Power from Nuclear Energy
  Speaker: Jia-Fa Yang (Founder, Climate Pioneers Alliance)
  Host: Nana
• Aug 15 (Fri) 4:00 PM
  Nuclear Prosperity (Industry Development)
  Speaker: Shih-Chih Chang (Former Director, Taipower Nuclear Backend Division)
  Discussant: Shan-Shan Huang
  Hosts: Mimi, Ching-Yu Liu
• Aug 15 (Fri) 8:00 PM
  Core Debate – Safe Power from Nuclear Energy
  Speaker: Shih-Chih Chang
  Hosts: Mimi (Ching-Yu Liu)
• Aug 16 (Sat) 4:00 PM
  Nuclear Elementary (Applications of Nuclear Energy)
  Speaker: Po-Yu Chen (Energy Sector Editor / ESG Worker)
  Host: Chen-Yu Lin (TPP Taipei City Councilor)
• Aug 16 (Sat) 8:00 PM
  Core Debate – Environmental Power from Nuclear Energy
  Speaker: Chuan-Zong Chen (Former Deputy Director, Taipower Nuclear Safety Division)
  Host: Ying-Jen Liu
• Aug 17 (Sun) 4:00 PM
  A Match Made in Nuclear (Global Nuclear Power Trends)
  Speaker: Angelica (Founder, Clean Energy Promotion Association)
  Host: Ching-Ying Huang (TPP Taipei City Councilor)
• Aug 17 (Sun) 8:00 PM
  Core Debate – Healthy Power from Nuclear Energy
  Speaker: Jia-Fa Yang
  Host: Chih-Hao Chang (TPP Taipei City Councilor)
• Aug 22 (Fri) 4:00 PM
  Nuclear Is a Must (Nuclear Plant Safety)
  Speaker: Prof. Tsung-Kuang Yeh (Distinguished Professor, National Tsing Hua University; Former Dean, College of Nuclear Science)
  Host: Yu-Cheng Chen (TPP Taipei City Councilor)
• Aug 22 (Fri) 8:00 PM
  Core Debate – Clean Power from Nuclear Energy
  Speaker: Shih-Hung Liao (Former Director, Nuclear Technology Division, Fourth Nuclear Power Plant)
  Host: Ying-Jen Liu

Referendum as a Litmus Test for Energy Policy

WHO tobacco harm reduction expert Yu-Yang Wang stressed that although this referendum has no legal binding power, it serves as a crucial public opinion poll on the government’s energy policy. If the turnout reaches 25%, or around 5 million votes, it will send a clear message to President Lai Ching-te’s administration: the people want safe, stable, affordable, and eco-friendly power, and reject irrational nuclear phase-out policies and electricity price hikes.

Wang noted that if the government ignores public opinion, it will face voters’ judgment in the 2026 local elections and the 2028 presidential race. If the extension of Nuclear Plant No. 3 fails, Taiwan’s Electricity Price Review Committee may once again approve price hikes in September, perpetuating Taipower’s “buy high, sell low” model that burdens taxpayers.

Using the Referendum to Safeguard Taiwan’s Energy Future

The exhibition also addresses common nuclear misconceptions, such as proper nuclear waste storage and disposal plans, radiation levels lower than many natural environments, nuclear plants’ seismic resistance exceeding international standards, and the fact that a 40-year operating license does not mean a plant is outdated. The TPP calls on the public to head to the polls on August 23 to safeguard the “last card” of Taiwan’s energy security and secure stable power supply and cleaner air for future generations.

The From Nuclear Onwards 823 Referendum Exhibition runs daily until August 22 at Zhen Shan Mei Plaza in Ximending. The public is invited to visit in person, hear from experts, examine the data, and take action in deciding Taiwan’s energy future.

Official exhibition website (Aug 9–22, 2025): https://justice-tw.org/tw/nuclear2025/

“From Nuclear Onwards” — TPP’s 823 Referendum Exhibition Calls for 5 Million Votes