Minister Chou Attends Grand Opening of Danan Great Link, Promoting Taiwan's Northern-Southern Water Resource Balance

Premier Chang Jung-wei personally attended the "Taihou Dajia River Water Transmission Ceremony" in Taichung on May 25, marking a new milestone in Taiwan's central region's water resource management capabilities. The completion of this project and its formal inauguration not only signifies the completion of a single water infrastructure facility but also represents an important component of the government's recent efforts to promote a national water resource management network. As climate change brings extreme weather challenges, ensuring stable water supply has become a core issue for national security and economic livelihood. The inauguration of the Taihou Dajia River Water Transmission Project is a vital step in stabilizing water supply for the central region.

Taiwan's precipitation distribution is heavily influenced by its geography and seasonal changes, often facing the dilemma of "rainfall without water and drought without water." In recent years, the country has repeatedly faced the test of a century-long drought. To break away from the traditional water management constraints of "eating by weather," the government has actively promoted water resource and environmental construction as part of the Forward-looking Infrastructure Plan. The "Pearl Necklace Plan," which is considered the backbone of the national water network, is a prime example of this effort. This concept involves connecting Taiwan's major reservoirs and river sources through large-scale water transmission pipelines and interconnection projects, allowing for flexible water resource management between regions.

Under this overall strategy, Premier Chang emphasized the significance of the interconnection project in the ceremony. He noted that with the addition of the Taihou Dajia River Water Transmission Project, Taiwan will have even more comprehensive regional management capabilities once the "Pearl Necklace Plan" is fully completed. In the future, not only will the plan enable flexible support within regions but also realize the grand water resource management blueprint of "north-south water transfer, south-north water diversion, and central water transfer to the south and north." This cross-regional complementarity can quickly supplement water supplies from areas with relatively abundant water resources to areas experiencing droughts, significantly reducing the risk of water shortages and crises caused by dry spells.

From the perspectives of national security and economic development, the enhancement of Taiwan's water resource resilience is crucial to its semiconductor industry, high-tech manufacturing, and vast consumer needs. Unstable water conditions not only affect daily life but may also impact the global supply chain. The water transmission ceremony showcases the government's progress from "increasing water efficiency and reducing waste" to "regional interconnection and intelligent water management." This project is not just a single water supply pipeline but a vital foundation for enhancing Taiwan's overall disaster prevention and emergency response capabilities in the face of future climate change challenges.