TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Saturday addressed the failed referendum on restarting the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant in a speech at the Presidential Office.

An overwhelming majority of voters supported restarting the plant if it passed government safety checks (74%). However, the measure fell short of the minimum threshold by about 650,000 votes, per CNA.

Lai said he respected public concerns about stable energy supply and the role of nuclear power. He pledged to direct Taipower to carry out safety inspections of nuclear plants and report risks and operating conditions to the public.

He added that while he understands the desire for diverse energy options, nuclear power must ultimately be determined by science rather than a single referendum. “The greatest consensus of Taiwan’s energy debate is safety. Nuclear safety is a scientific issue, and one that cannot be resolved through a single vote,” Lai said.

If nuclear plants meet safety standards, Lai said they will be submitted to the Nuclear Safety Commission for review under the law. He emphasized that two conditions must be met before any restart: the commission must establish safety review procedures in accordance with regulations, and Taipower must conduct independent safety inspections under those procedures.

Lai concluded that his government has always adhered to three principles on nuclear power: safety, solutions for nuclear waste, and social consensus.