Taiwan Premier Attends Road Opening Amidst Aerotropolis Relocation Protests

Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai attended the inauguration ceremony for the Taoyuan Aerotropolis expansion road project on Friday. However, the event was met with protests from residents displaced by the aerotropolis development. These residents gathered outside the venue, demanding that the government fulfill its commitment to a "build first, then relocate" policy. They cited significant delays in the construction of resettlement housing, attributed to factors like the pandemic, inflation, and labor shortages. The protesters expressed frustration over the delayed handover of new homes and ongoing issues with temporary utilities and building permits. Chen Hsi-ta, chairman of the Taoyuan Aerotropolis Local Promotion Association, stated that the original completion timeline is now unlikely. He also pointed to the Civil Aeronautics Administration's announcement that subsidies would cease after June, urging the government to realistically adjust its systems and deadlines. Protesters are calling for an extension of the deadline for the 15% development incentive and the 50% relocation compensation, both originally set for later this year.

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Everyone is working hard, thank you.

While the protesters did not directly confront the Premier, their concerns were formally presented. Yang Kuo-feng, chief secretary of the Civil Aeronautics Administration, accepted the petition. He assured the residents that the agency would continue coordinating with the Taoyuan city government to facilitate their resettlement and relocation under the "build first, then relocate" principle. Yang stated that the demands would be reviewed and a response would be provided to the residents. The Premier, when questioned by the media, briefly acknowledged the situation, stating, "Everyone is working hard, thank you."

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The original completion timeline is now unlikely.