The United States backs Taiwan’s bid to participate in the International Atomic Energy Agency so the country can join global efforts and contribute to nuclear safety and security issues, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel B. Poneman said Dec. 13.
“The United States has long been a supporter of Taiwan's participation in international organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency, including its participation in technical meetings on nuclear safety and security,” he said.
Poneman, the highest ranking U.S. official to visit Taiwan in over a decade, made the remarks in a speech at National Taiwan University on how Taipei and Washington can strengthen nuclear energy cooperation and join forces to deal with the energy challenges of the future.
In his speech, Poneman stressed that Taiwan and the U.S. enjoy a strong scientific and technological relationship, with the two sides having conducted a broad range of collaborative projects over the past 17 years.
He cited as an example the more than 160 joint research and development projects conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Taiwan’s Environmental Protection Administration, with funding averaging over US$500,000 each year.
Poneman said nuclear safety is a prominent issue worldwide, especially following Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi crisis in March. He praised efforts made by Taiwan after the incident to bolster nuclear safety, including comprehensive inspections of the country’s three operational facilities and the signing of an agreement with mainland China to increase information sharing.
Regarding energy issues, Poneman pointed out that Taiwan and the U.S. face a number of shared energy and climate challenges, as both countries depend heavily on energy imports, and are seeking ways to diversify energy resources, develop clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
If Taiwan and the U.S. take steps now to meet these challenges, they will be well-positioned to capitalize on the tremendous economic opportunities in energy in the years and decades ahead, according to Poneman.
“By working individually, cooperatively, and through multilateral fora like the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation－or APEC－we can help to usher in this clean energy future for our economies.”
In a question-and-answer session, Poneman declined to comment on whether Taiwan should gradually decommission its existing nuclear power plants and stop constructing more nuclear facilities after the completion of its fourth one, saying that this is something entirely for the Taiwanese people to decide.
He said, however, that it is the view of the U.S. government and academics that nuclear power plays an important role in reducing carbon emissions and increasing use of clean energy sources.
Poneman, who was scheduled to leave Taiwan Dec. 14, met with ROC President Ma Ying-jeou, other senior government officials and local U.S. and Taiwanese business leaders during his three-day visit to the country. (THN)
Write to Rachel Chan at rachelchan@mail.gio.gov.tw