Ex-President Tsai never intervened in green energy projects: Office

Taipei, July 10 (CNA) Former President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) never intervened in any renewable energy projects, her office spokesperson said Thursday in response to the main opposition Kuomintang raising questions about Tsai's endorsement of a company developing offshore floating solar systems before she took office in 2016.

At a press conference on Wednesday, KMT Taipei City Councilor Chang Szu-kang (張斯綱) and party spokesperson Crystal Yang (楊智伃) raised concerns about possible irregularities relating to an offshore floating solar energy project in Taiwan's southernmost county of Pingtung developed by Sun Rise E&T Corp.

The floating solar power platform off the coast of Pingtung established in 2016 was toppled when Typhoon Danas battered southern Taiwan late Sunday and Monday morning, raising public concern over the project, which reportedly received over NT$100 million (US$3.42 million) in central government subsidies, yet was unable to withstand the typhoon.

Yang claimed that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) had supported the development of floating solar energy since Tsai's tenure as leader.

Yang cited past news reports claiming Tsai held a four-hour private meeting with Sun Rise E&T Chairman Tung Chi-hsu (董基旭) prior to the 2016 presidential election.

The KMT spokesperson said Tung was deeply aligned with the DPP, receiving an endorsement from Tsai, with former DPP Pingtung Magistrate Tsao Chi-hung (曹啟鴻) serving as an independent director at the company.

Another former Pingtung County magistrate Pan Men-an (潘孟安) not only endorsed the company but also appointed former Environmental Protection Bureau chief Lu Tai-ying (魯台營) to serve as an independent director at Sun Rise E&T after leaving office, according to Yang.

On Thursday, Tsai Shu-ching (蔡舒景), spokesperson for Tsai's office, issued a three-point statement and accused the KMT of deliberately using the typhoon-damaged offshore floating facility in Jiadong, Pingtung to discredit Tsai's past policies.

First, the project was supported by subsidies from the Ministry of Economic Affairs to assist businesses develop emerging energy technologies, which is a common practice worldwide to support industry development, according to the statement.

The statement also noted Tsai actively promoted the development of renewable energy and encouraged research and development into innovative energy technologies through collaboration among academia, industry, and research institutions. However, she did not intervene in the promotion of any individual project.

In addition, it said the alleged meeting between Tsai and the business operator never happened.