KMT forms youth speaking tour to promote nuclear referendum islandwide

The Kuomintang (KMT) held an inauguration ceremony today to formally establish the Youth Advocacy Team for the “Non-Nuclear Home” referendums, with Vice Chairman Li Chien-lung personally handing over the team’s banner. Party spokesperson Liu Tsai-wei explained at a press conference that the team, composed of young party members, will travel to townships across the country. Using a light and lively approach, they will explain energy policies and the KMT’s related positions to the public, aiming to raise awareness regarding nuclear energy issues.

The nuclear energy debate in Taiwan has deepened over time. In 2021, the Executive Yuan announced the “Non-Nuclear Home” goal, planning to fully phase out nuclear power by 2025, which immediately sparked widespread social discussion. The referendums held in 2022 concerning the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant and nuclear power generation ultimately rejected the restart of the plant by a narrow margin, indicating that public opinion remains divided. The KMT has long advocated for energy diversification, arguing that nuclear energy remains an important backup for stable power supply during the energy transition. Consequently, the party actively organized this advocacy team to provide its stance and factual basis in future referendums or policy debates.

Amid the political fervor preceding local elections and the 2024 presidential election, the KMT urgently needs to mobilize the younger generation. The party’s youth organizations have already gained experience in election mobilization and social issue advocacy. By focusing on the nuclear energy referendums, the party aims to simultaneously enhance young people’s awareness of public affairs and expand its grassroots reach through local outreach. Liu noted that the Youth Advocacy Team is not only a tool for policy persuasion but also a cradle for cultivating future party leaders.

The advocacy team’s itinerary has been planned to cover the entire island.