Taiwan Knowledge Park Hearing Postponed; Candidate Calls for Broader Review

A hearing for Taiwan's knowledge park has been postponed, a move welcomed by opposition parties as an opportunity to reassess the 435-hectare development.

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The planning for the Taiwan Knowledge Park has historical significance, but facing new challenges such as AI industry development, population structure changes, transportation, and climate change, it is time to re-examine the overall plan with a more macroscopic perspective.

New Taipei City mayoral candidate Cheng Chao-fang, through his campaign spokesperson, stated that while the park's original plan held historical significance, current challenges like AI industry growth, demographic shifts, and climate change necessitate a broader review. He emphasized that major construction projects must balance environmental sustainability with generational needs and social consensus.

The New Power Party chairwoman, Wang Wan-yu, also called for a re-evaluation, urging the leading candidates for county magistrate, Hsu Hsin-ying and Cheng Chao-fang, to publicly state their positions on the land's future. She proposed a new concept called "Hsinchu Central Parkland," suggesting the county government reconsider the development in light of 26 years of population changes due to declining birth rates.

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Major construction projects should not just be about completing a plan, but must balance sustainable environment and generational needs.

The Hsinchu County government, however, maintained that the project's issues have been thoroughly discussed at the Ministry of the Interior's Urban Planning Commission. They confirmed the project is a major construction plan approved by the Executive Yuan and will undergo further review after the formal hearing.

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This postponement gives Hsinchu County a new opportunity for adjustment and choice.