Policy Department - Wang Yu-yang

In 2025, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government finally ushered Taiwan into its so-called “Nuclear-Free Homeland.” While they raise their glasses to celebrate this milestone in energy transition, they simultaneously expose the people to unprecedented risks of air pollution and lung cancer. One must ask: What exactly are we celebrating in the name of this “progress”?

The shutdown of the No. 2 reactor at the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant marked the decommissioning of Taiwan’s last operating nuclear reactor. The DPP repeatedly assures the public that “power supply is secure,” yet they consistently avoid discussing the cost of phasing out nuclear energy. With nuclear power gone, thermal power now accounts for over 90% of Taiwan’s electricity generation. But what is thermal power? Thermal power is burning coal, releasing sulfur oxides, emitting PM2.5, increasing lung cancer, causing chronic diseases, and exposing children to toxic air with every breath. The DPP won’t admit it because doing so would mean acknowledging that it is their anti-nuclear policy that is actually making people sick.

The truth is harsh. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s latest statistics released on June 16, lung cancer has been the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Taiwan for 21 consecutive years despite a consistent decline in smoking rates. In fact, the incidence and mortality rates of lung cancer continue to rise. A review of age-standardized lung cancer incidence rates since 1979 reveals a shocking trend — a steep climb since the 1980s, completely debunking the myth that only smokers get lung cancer. So who are the culprits? Air pollution and coal combustion.

Data from the Ministry of Environment shows that while emissions from stationary sources like power plants have decreased, mobile sources like vehicles now lead the charge. With the closure of Maanshan, the gap in baseload power must be filled by coal and gas. Taipower can dress up their words all they want, but what does “stable power supply” mean? A stable increase in lung cancer rates? A stable transformation of southern and central Taiwan into air pollution disaster zones?

Even more absurdly, DPP politicians often scapegoat the Taichung Power Plant (Taichung Coal Plant) whenever pollution hits, refusing to face the reality that their policy of nuclear decommissioning has directly fueled thermal expansion. On one hand, they pressure Taipower to reduce coal usage, but on the other hand, they refuse to consider nuclear plant extensions — pushing power dispatching to rely on outdated and even more polluting units. This isn’t energy transition — it’s energy disarray!

The DPP’s energy policy is a charade disguised as environmentalism.They mobilize voters with an anti-nuclear narrative but fail to tell you that what truly makes children sick and sends the elderly to the hospital is not nuclear power — it’s the toxic substances in our air. They lull society with a “green energy dream,” yet refuse to confront the harsh reality: solar and wind power cannot provide stable electricity.

They call themselves progressive, but their policies are creating one air pollution black hole after another — with the public left to bear the cost.

Of course, we support green energy and industrial transformation. But we also know that  hydrogen technology is still in testing, energy storage remains immature, and Taiwan’s natural gas supply is tied to volatile international markets. Taiwan simply isn’t in a position to say, “We can live without nuclear power.” A mature government would conduct careful evaluations. A responsible government would protect public health — not sacrifice our right to clean air for the sake of ideology.

The choice today is clear: you can stand on the side of science and public health, and support extending the operation of Nuclear Plant No. 3. Or you can continue to believe in the DPP’s fearmongering about “nuclear disasters,” and choose to inhale more toxic emissions while our hospitals run out of beds.

These are two paths: one led by science and reason; the other, by politics and ignorance.

Rising air pollution and lung cancer rates stand as the most serious indictment against the ruling party. We must no longer be blinded by the slogan of a “nuclear-free homeland.” The people of Taiwan deserve a future where they can breathe clean air. On August 23, vote in the referendum to extend operations of Nuclear Plant No. 3, and send a clear message to the DPP: “You may fear nuclear power, but we fear lung cancer even more.”