TAIWAN

The Chinese government is likely to scrap a us $5.6 billion nuclear power project of Taiwan. The state-run Taiwan Power Company, Taipower has spent us $1.41 billion on the initial construction of the plant in the northern coastal township of Kungliao. Some government officials have stated that calling off the project - 30 per cent of which is on the verge of being completed -- would cost the company us $2.7 billion. The decision was taken after researchers warned that a nuclear radiation leak from the plant would immediately kill more than 8,700 people in northern Taiwan and almost 3.5 million will be affected from illnesses such as cancer.