ICE
Case Studies Nuclear Dump Dispute on Orchid Island
ICE Case Study, No. 159. By Hui~Yun Chung
Environment Overlap Conflict Aspect
1. Abstract
The controversy over the disposal of nuclear waste has been an important issue in Taiwan for decades. Since the demand for electricity is increasing, constructing the fourth nuclear power plant in Taiwan has become a dispute as well. The people living on the island are concerned not only with the safety of the nuclear power plant, but also with the government management of the nuclear waste. Taiwan has 6 reactors at three sites currently, and since 1982 the radioactive waste has been transferred to Orchid Island which is located in 65 kilometers off Taiwan's coast. Residents on Orchid Island protested against storing the nuclear waste on their homeland. The major issues of this topic are the conflict between te Taiwanese governemnt and poeple living on Orchid Island, and great debates over the constrution of the fourth nuclear power plant in Taiwan.
2. Description<
There is an important dilemma surrounding the nuclear question in Taiwan. Nuclear power constitutes a large part of Taiwan's electricity. However, the nuclear waste generated has posed a great threat to the Taiwanese people and their environment. Are there any alternatives to replace the nuclear power plant? Perhaps,oil,coal,gas, and hydroelectricity could provide electricity instead. Another question also is whether there are costs in terminating the nuclear project. Due to the current energy situation, it is possible that the electricity price will increase, foreign investment will decrease, and domestic economic growth will fall. The conflicts raised by the nuclear dump dispute will be the bases for the case study.
The energy resources in Taiwan are very scarce. Because nuclear power fuel is relatively economic in price and is easy to ship, nuclear power has become essential to Taiwan's power generation. Prior to the first nuclear plant at Chinshan starting commercial operation in 1978, Taiwan's electricity production mainly came from coal, oil, and hydropower. Up to now, there have been three nuclear plants at Chinshan, Kuosheng, and Maanshan in Taiwan, with two units in each site. In 1984, the nuclear power comprised approximately 50% of Taiwan's electricity production. Since individual power producers and non-nuclear power have increased, the three nuclear power plants currently contribute to a share of 22% of total domestic electricity in 2001. However, total electricity consumption has increased in Taiwan and the average capacity of the three nuclear plants is at its all-time low, 79 % in 2001. Some Taiwanese people have been paying attemtion to the construction of new nuclear power plant to share increasing electricity consumption. Nevertheless, the management of nuclear wastes is a tough task because it involves people's safety and the environment. About 95% of the low-level radioactive waste in Taiwan has been produced from the three nuclear power plants. The interim site in Orchid Island has undertaken the responsibility to store the nuclear waste. ( See Nuclear Power Development in Taiwan:. Operational Performance and Prospects by Dr. Min-Shen Ouyang.)
2002 The Commercial Electricity Production in
Taiwan by Source
The government has placed a nuclear waste dump
on the Orchid Island, home to the Tao people. The Tao people think that they
are treated unfairly by the government because of their minority group identity.
Approximately 4,000 Tao people inhabit Orchid Island. The Tao, formerly named
the Yami, are the most peaceful people among the nine aboriginal groups of Taiwan,
who are against the use of force. Their social life is in accordance with the
natural principles. Their social system is based on the observance of working
together for the benefit of all. The Taiwanese government took over Orchid Island
in 1946. Since then, the natural environment and the Tao's culture have been
changed in some aspects. In 1958, the Taiwan government sent 2,500 convicts
to Orchid Island. Taiwan's government took the Tao's land where they used to
cultivate taro for building accommodation for these convicts. These convicts
did not leave until 1979. Later, Taiwan's government established school on Orchid
Island to teach Han Chinese culture. Thus, the traditional Tao culture has been
influenced by the Taiwan government's efforts to promote Han Chinese culture.
Nevertheless, because the Tao live on Orchid Island,which is isolated from mainland
Taiwan, the Tao still have developed their distinct culture and lifestyle. The
Tao see flying fish as a unique gift from their heavenly deities. Most of the
Tao's rites and ceremonies are related to their fishing activities. (
Domestic Conflict
The level of conflict is low while the impact of the conflict is noticeable. The construction of the fourth nuclear power plant (NPP4) is debated because of the Tao tribe's protest and the rising antinuclear campaigns by environmental groups. Tao tribe's protest has mobilized environmental groups to organize their own anti-nuclear campaigns. Consequently, the government has halted the construction of the fourth nuclear power plant. The decision to continue construct the fourth nuclear power plant on Taiwan's northeast coast has become a significant political, economic and environment issue for Taiwan. In addition, the government is trying to find a permanent site for nuclear dump outside of Orchid Island.
International Conflict
In 1997, the Taipower, a state-owned electricity company in Taiwan, signed a contract with a state-run North Korean company which agrees on sending nuclear waste to Pingsan, North Korea. The contract allowed the Taipower to ship 200,000 barrels of radioactive waste to North Korea for an estimated cost of $1,151/barrel. However, the nuclear dump shipment deal came into South Korea's attention. There were six environmental activists came to Taiwan and had a hunger strike to protest Taiwan's nuclear waste shipment deal with North Korea. Finally, because Seoul opposed violently, the plan was stopped. (see the case :North Korea Nuclear Imports)
Copyright ©2002 Tourism Bureau, Rep. of China.(Taiwan)
3.Duration: From 1982 to now
4.Location: Continent : Asia, Region : East Asia, Country : Taiwan
5.Actors: Taiwan Government,The Taipower, a state- run electricity company,Tao people on Orchid Island
II. Environmental Aspect
Taiwan's nuclear reactors are all threatened by natural disasters, such as earthquakes, typhoons, and volcanic activities. While there are six reactors on the small island, maintaining these nuclear reactors to operate safely has high priority in Taiwan's environmental issues. These low level nuclear wastes have stored in the trenches on Orchid Island (Lan-Yu) since 1982.
According to the site's director, the chemical reactions inside these barrels have corroded the concrete which nuclear wastes mixed with. Approximately, there are 20,000 barrels need to be fixed and repainting to prevent them from corrosion. The debris which was brought by storms and landslide destroy the nuclear storage as well. The situation may become worse in the future. Moreover, an official of the Atomic Energy Council stated that some drums were made of inexpensive steels which easily rusted. The nuclear dump site was constructed at the southeast part of the island, where is the fishing zone for local residents. Some residents said that the nuclear dump have generated pollution to the environment. They found several deformed fish on the beach. The residents are scared and feel helpless. (See: A Minority within a Minority:Cultural Survival on Taiwan's Orchid Island) (Photo: Copyright©2002, Tourism Bureau, Taiwan)
6. Type of Environmental Problem: Radioactive Waste
7. Type of Habitat: Tropical
8.Act and Harm Site : Taiwan Radioactive Dumping on Orchid Island
III. Conflict Aspect
The Conflict Surrounding involved in Orchid Island Nuclear Waste Dispute
There are 4,000 inhabitants on the Orchid Island which is a small island of Taiwan known for its beautiful environment. These inhabitants belong to one of the Taiwanese aboriginal groups, called Tao. The Tao tribe has made efforts to protest against the nuclear waste storage sites on their island. In 1988, the Tao tribe began for the first time to protest against the nuclear dump on their homeland. The most intense protest was held in 2002. There were more than one thousand inhabitants participating in the demonstration which was called exorcism movement by the Tao people. People protested in front of the temporary repository and called on the President Chen Shui- bian to fulfill his 2000 presidential campaign which promised the Tao tribe to remove nuclear waste from Orchid Island. However, the minister of Economic Affairs Lin Yi-Fu just responded to these claims by a faxed statement which raised protestors' dissatisfaction. Although Minister Lin stressed in his statement that the government's nuclear- free policy has not changed and he would order Taipower to reinforce safety measures at the repository, the Tao requested a specific timetable for moving nuclear dump from Orchid Island. Demonstrators said that Lin must show up for responding to their demands. Otherwise, they would break into the repository and burn it. Because the police tried to stop these demonstrators from entering the repository, the police clashed with demonstrators. The situation was out of control. One journalist was injured. (Aborigines Protest Nuclear Waste, Taipei Times)
The Taipower continues to transfer nuclear wastes to the island. This has raised residents' concerns about their health and environment, causing more protests against the nuclear dump. Moreover, the nuclear dump issue also involves in the construction of the fourth nuclear power plant on the northeast shore of Taiwan which has raised great debates on the government's nuclear power policy. The conflict spread from the Orchid Island to the mainland Taiwan.
Protection UnionThe Debate Over the Construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant on Mainland Taiwan
The anti-nuclear movement spread from Orchid Island to mainland Taiwan where there is a growing debate. The Taiwanese government chose Orchid Island as the nuclear waste storage in the 1970s; however, people on the island did not receive adequate information.
Since an Orchid Island resident wrote an article to question the nuclear dump in 1985, the issue has been taken seriously by the Orchid Island residents and people in mainland Taiwan. More articles and reports have appeared in the newspaper and on TV. The residents on Orchid Island started their protests , which attempted to stop the Taipower company from sending more nuclear waste to the islet. In 1987, an organization, Yamwei Tribe Young Generation Union (YTYG), was set up to organize a series of anti-nuclear movements by the Orchid Island people. The most successful protest formed by the Orchid Island people was the 530 anti-nuclear movement in 1993. The impact of this demonstration was that the Legislative Yuan froze the financial budget for the second stage of construction of the second nuclear waste field on the Orchid Island.
At the same time, many environmental groups began to support the protestors
who requested that the Taipower company and the government to remove the nuclear
waste from Orchid Island. Furthermore, the nuclear dump issue on Orchid Island
involves the debate over construction of the fourth nuclear power plant. Since
the nuclear power plant is generating nuclear waste, people think that it is
necessary to cease building any nuclear power plants in Taiwan. Environmental
groups and organizations have propagandized the slogan of " A Nuclear-
Free Homeland. "
The fourth nuclear power plant dispute has caused bickering among politicians. In 1990, the Legislative Yuan approved the building of the fourth nuclear power plant, in order to avoid the power shortage in Taiwan. The opposition party (Democratic Progressive Party, DPP) at that time requested the government to reevaluate construction of the fourth unit. In 2000, the Opposition party's leader, Chen, Shui-bian, took control of the government. President Chen announced that the construction on Taiwan's fourth nuclear power plant will be halted. The new opposition parties (Kuomintang, KMT) required a thorough reassessment of this decision of construction the fourth plant. The Cabinet argued that the cancellation of the project will not result in the shortage of electricity. In addition, the Cabinet stated that disposing nuclear waste would be a tough problem to solve. Lastly, any nuclear accident would a huge crisis for Taiwan because Taiwan is a small island with a large population. Because of the continued struggle between the Cabinet (DPP) and the opposition (KMT), debates over the construction the fourth nuclear plant is ongoing.
After the Judicial Yuan ruled that the Cabinet had made a procedural flaw in halting construction, the construction of the fourth nuclear power plant resumed in 2001. However, the officials stated that the Chen administration still regards a nuclear-free home as the ultimate goal. The Cabinet is planning to hold a referendum which will attempt to halt the construction of the fourth nuclear power plant.
(Dr. Min, Shen Ouyang,Nuclear Power Development in Taiwan:Operational Performance and Prospects)
Chronicle of Major Events
| 1978 | Taipower first proposed to build the NPP4 in the KungLiao Valley of Taipei County. |
| April, 1985 | 55 Legislators signed an emergency petition to the Executive Yuan requesting a reevaluation of the necessity of construction of NPP4. |
| 1986 | Budget for the NPP4 project was frozen in the Legislature Yuan after the Chernobyl accident. |
| 1988 | The first anti-nuclear movement was held in Orchid Island. |
| Oct. 3, 1991 | One police office died and ten people were injured in an antinuclear demonstration. |
| June 1992 | The Legislature passed the budget for NPP4. |
| April 26, 1992 | 3,000 people joined the anti-nuclear demonstration in Taipei. |
| June3, 1992 | The Legislature Yuan passed the budget for the fourth nuclear power plant (NPP4), despite the opposition. |
| 1994 | The Tao came to mainland Taiwan to protest against nuclear dump on Orchid Island. |
| May 25, 1994 | The first referendum was held within 35 km range of NPP4. Voter turnout was 58%, 96% were against the NPP4. |
| Nov.27, 1994 | The second referendum was held. Voter turnout was only 18%. 89% of the people were against. |
| Mar.23, 1996 | The third referendum was held. Voter turnout was 59%. 52%of the epople were against and 46% of the people were for. |
| May 24, 1996 | The Legislature Yuan passed a bill to abolish all nuclear power plant programs. |
| Oct 18, 1996 | The Legislature Yuan overturned its previous decision and announced that the construction of the NPP4 will be continued. |
| Dec. 5, 1998 | The fourth referendum was held. Voter turnout was 44%. 64% of the people were against and 36% were for. |
| Mar. 27, 2000 | Presidential candidate, Chen, Shui-bian claimed that he will stop construction of NPP4. |
| 2001 | Construction of NPP4 was resumed. |
| 2002 | More than one thousand inhabitants of Orchid Island participated in the anti-nuclear demonstration which was called the exorcism movement. They called on the President Chen Shui-bian to fulfill his 2.000 presidential campaign. |
The Cost of Construction of Four Nuclear Power Plants In Taiwan
| NPP1Shimen | NPP2 Wanli | NPP3 HunTsuen |
NPP4KungLiao | |
| Initial Budget (Billion in U.S.) |
0.42 |
0.73 |
1.19 |
5.20 |
| Final Cost (Billion in U.S.) |
0.99 |
2.10 |
3.25 |
unknown |
| Capacity(Megawatt) | 636*2 |
985*2 |
951*2 |
1350*2 |
The total cost of construction of the fourth nuclear power plant (NPP4) is estimated at $17 billion, approximately 2.6 times the initial project. (Gloria Kuang-Jung Hsu, Ph.D., Problems and Current Status of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant in Taiwan)
9.Type of Conflict: Harm
10.Level of Conflict: Low
11. Fatality Level of Dispute: There is no fatality in this case so far
The anti-nuclear movement on 27 Nov. 2005. (copyright ©Taiwan Watch Institute)
IV. Environment and Conflict Overlap
12. Environment-Conflict Link and Dynamics
13.Level of Strategic Interest: Regional
Any nuclear leak from the nuclear waste will be a fatal damage to people who live on Orchid Island. The nuclear waste will also pollute the Pacific ocean. Most people live at the coastal area of Taiwan earn their living by fishing. Therefore, the contaminated water and fish will indirectly injure their health. It is also likely that the contaminated water will float to Japan, the Philippines and other neighboring countries and cause profound damage to the region.
The Tao people
are concerned about the fish they eat. According to a Tao human rights campaigner,
he said that the death rate from the cancer has increased significantly. In
addition, children were born with defects in many cases.
In 1993, a number of deformed thornfish were first found in the thermal outlet
of the second nuclear power plant in northern Taiwan. News reported that a fishman
found this kind of deformed fish near the sea off Orchid Island as well. This
has raised the Tao's concern about their health. The scientists found that high
temperature caused the deformed thornfish. Although there is no clear links
between the deformed fish and nuclear power plant, people think that the high
temperature water is from nuclear power plant and therefore resulted in the
deformed fish.
copyright© 2003 TEENS
Deformed thornfish (left) and normal fish (right)
14.Outcome of Dispute :Ongoing
The Taipower has not come to a resolution to solve the nuclear dump on Orchid Island. The nuclear waste is still being storied there. The Taipower proposed a new plan which will move another nuclear dump site from Orchid Island to another Taiwanese islet, Wu Chiu, 5 km of the southeast coast of China.
Wuchiu, Kinman and Maysu serves as three frontline military bases of Taiwan. The Taiwanese government began to dispatch troops to Wuchiu islands since 1952. Nowadays, there are 500 Taiwanese troops stationing there. Wuchiu is comprised of two major islands of Tahchiu and Hsiaochiu. The total land of Wuchiu is 1.22 square kilometers with a population of 387.
Since the Taipower company choose Wuchiu as a permanent nuclear dump site, residents of Wuchiu opposed this plan. Despite an offer of $99 million as compensation, residents of Wuchiu still reject to have a nuclear dump in their homeland.
There are many variables that complicate this plan. For example, China opposed this plan because the nuclear dump site is possible to pose a potential threat to China’s offshore environment. In addition, the islet, Wu Chiu, is very close to China and China can therefore easily attack and seize it in the case of war.
In 2002, Taipower announced that the plan of construction of the permanent site for storing nuclear dump will stop. However, the scarcely populated Wuchiu Islandsr remain Taipower’s first choice for building the site. In sum, the people of Taiwan are in great conflict with the building of a nuclear dump anywhere in the country. It seems that the Taipower will have difficulties finding an ideal location to store nuclear waste for Taipower.
15. Related ICE cases
1. Mururoa, French Nuclear Tests in South Pacific
2. Russnuke, Environment and Russian Nuclear trade
4. Chechnya Conflict and Environment implications
5. Toxic Waste and a U.S. Base at Subic, Philippines
6. Vieques
7. U.S. Military Presence in Diego Garcia: National Interest and Human Rights
9. Russian Toxic Dumpling in the Arctic Sea
10. North Korea Nuclear Waste Imports
16.Relevent Website and Literature
(1) Allan Mazur and Beverlie Conant, "Controversy over a Local Nuclear Waste." Social Studies of Science, Vol. 8, No. 2, May 1978, pp.235-243.
(2) Todd R. La Porte, "Nuclear Waste : Increasing Scale and Sociopolitical Impacts." Science, New Series, Vol. 201, No. 4350, pp. 22-28.
(3) Tony Allison, " Taiwan : More Than Just a Nuclear Controversy." Asia Times, Nov. 2000, http://www.atimes.com/reports/BK01Ai01.html.
(4) Keith Bradsher, "Nuclear Dump Distrust a Peaceful Taiwan Island." The New York Times, 2002.
(5) "A History of the Radioactive Waste Crisis in Taiwan." http://archive.greenpeace.org/comms/no.nukes/waste02b.html.
(6) "Taiwan Power Company misrepresents Radioactivity of Nuclear Waste to be sent to North Korea", http://archive.greenpeace.org/pressreleases/nucwaste/1997may15.html
(7) "Three Miles Island Alert." http://www.tmia.com
(8) "Nuclear Power Earns Fresh Look, despite Past Woe " USA Today, April 17, 2001.
(9) "Nuclear - Free Asia, Support Taiwan ." Greenaction, http://www.greenaction.org/nonukes/index.shtml.
(10) "Taiwan Pushes to Revive Nuclear Construction." WISE News Communique,
http://www10.antenna.nl/wise/index.html?http://www10.antenna.nl/wise/344/3438.html
(11)" Avoidable Tragedy post- Chernobyl : A Critical Analysis." Journal of Humanitarian Health, http://www.nirs.org/reactorwatch/accidents/bertellonchernobyl.pdf
(12) Taiwan Ministry of Economics Press Release, Sep.30 , 2000.
(13) Taiwan Watch Institute, http://www.taiwanwatch.org.tw/Twweb_english/index.htm
(14) Min,Shen Ouyang,"Nuclear Power Development in Taiwan:Operational Performance and Prospects."JAIF Annual Conference, Japan, 15 April, 2003.
(15) Gloria Kuang-Jung Hsu, "Problems and Current Status of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant in Taiwan."
[ Dec.16, 2005]