Hsieh Shou-shing
{{Short description|Taiwanese engineer (born 1950)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{family name hatnote|Hsieh|lang=Chinese}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Hsieh Shou-shing
| native_name = {{no bold|謝曉星}}
| image = 原能會主委謝曉星 (cropped).jpg
| caption =
| order1 =
| office1 = Minister of Atomic Energy Council of the Republic of China
| deputy1 = Tsai Huei-min, Huang Tsing-tung, Chiu Tzu-tsung, Chang Ching-wen, Liu Wen-chung
| term_start1 = 20 May 2016
| term_end1 = 11 January 2023
| predecessor1 = Chou Yuan-chin
| successor1 = Chang Ching-wen
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|12|8|df=y}}
| birth_place = Hsinchu City, Taiwan
| nationality = Republic of China
| party =
| spouse =
| children =
| signature =
| education = Tatung Institute of Technology (BS)
National Taiwan University (MS)
Drexel University (MS)
{{no wrap|Ohio State University (MS, PhD)}}
}}
Hsieh Shou-shing ({{zh|t=謝曉星|s=谢晓星|first=t|p=Xiè Xiǎoxīng}}; born 8 December 1950) is a Taiwanese engineer who served as minister of the Atomic Energy Council from 20 May 2016 to his removal from office on 11 January 2023.
Education
Hsieh graduated with his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in mechanical engineering from Tatung Institute of Technology in 1973 and earned his master's degree in mechanical engineering from National Taiwan University in 1978. He then completed graduate studies in the United States, where he earned a second master's degree in mechanical engineering from Drexel University in 1980 and a third master's degree and then his Ph.D. from Ohio State University in 1981 and 1983, respectively, in mechanical engineering and nuclear engineering.{{cite web |date=28 April 2023 |title=Minister and Deputy Ministers |url=https://www.aec.gov.tw/english/About-AEC/Minister-and-Deputy-Ministers-23.html |agency=Atomic Energy Council}}
Academic career
Hsieh returned to Taiwan in 1984, to join the National Sun Yat-Sen University faculty, where he was promoted to full professor in 1989. Hsieh chaired the department of mechanical engineering between 1990 and 1996, when he was named dean of engineering. He held the deanship until 2002. Hsieh is an emeritus National Chair Professor, as designated by the Ministry of Education, and held the Distinguished Chair Professorship from 2011 to 2017.{{cite news |title=Brief |url=https://hsieh.mem.nsysu.edu.tw/?page_id=62&lang=en |access-date=4 December 2022 |publisher=National Sun Yat-Sen University}}
While he taught at NSYSU, Hsieh was elected a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1995.{{cite news |title=ASME Fellows List |url=https://www.asme.org/wwwasmeorg/media/resourcefiles/aboutasme/honors%20awards/fellows/fellows-all-2014.pdf |access-date=4 December 2022 |publisher=American Society of Mechanical Engineers |date=2014}}
Political career
Hsieh was named minister of the Atomic Energy Council in April 2016, and took office on 20 May, with other members of the Executive Yuan formed by Lin Chuan.{{cite news|last=Loa|first=Iok-sin|date=29 April 2016|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/04/29/2003645071|title=Premier-designate presents final Cabinet picks|work=Taipei Times|access-date=13 November 2021}} Shortly after assuming their ministerial posts, Hsieh and economic affairs minister Lee Chih-kung were sued by anti-nuclear activists, after Lee had proposed reactivating the first reactor at the Jinshan Nuclear Power Plant.{{cite news |last1=Chen |first1=Wei-han |title=Activists file suit over Jinshan reactor |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/05/31/2003647555 |access-date=3 December 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=31 May 2016}} The reactor had been shut down since December 2014, during the ministerial tenure of Tsai Chuen-horng.{{cite news |last1=Chen |first1=Wei-han |title=Reactor restart chance 'virtually zero' |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/06/14/2003648582 |access-date=3 December 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=14 June 2016}} At the time the plant was decommissioned, Taipower was unable to remove as many spent fuel rods as planned, due to storage limits.{{cite news |last1=Chen |first1=Wei-han |title=Campaigners to sue premier over Jinshan reactor |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/06/06/2003647983 |access-date=3 December 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=6 June 2016}} Activists filed a separate lawsuit against premier Lin Chuan.{{cite news |last1=Chen |first1=Wei-han |title=Premier Lin Chuan sued over reactor restart idea |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/06/07/2003648082 |access-date=3 December 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=7 June 2016}} In response to allegations that the AEC's previous actions had favored Taipower, Hsieh vowed to increase the council's transparency and invite public participation.{{cite news |last1=Chen |first1=Wei-han |title=Transparency key to AEC's future, minister promises |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/06/03/2003647785 |access-date=3 December 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=3 June 2016}} In June 2017, Hsieh was questioned about plans to convert the loading pools at Guosheng Nuclear Power Plant to fuel storage sites.{{cite news |last1=Pan |first1=Jason |title=Halt nuclear plant storage project: NPP lawmaker |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2017/06/03/2003671821 |access-date=3 December 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=3 June 2017}} Hsieh retained his role when William Lai became premier.{{cite news |last1=Chen |first1=Wei-han |title=Lai to replace two Cabinet ministers, retain all others |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2017/09/08/2003678033 |access-date=3 December 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=8 September 2017}} In November 2017, Hsieh reported to the Legislative Yuan about the AEC's plans to decommission three nuclear power plants, and subsequently convert them to geothermal power plants.{{cite news |last1=Lin |first1=Chia-nan |title=Nuclear facility might see use as geothermal plant |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2017/11/07/2003681827 |access-date=3 December 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=7 November 2017}}
In March 2018, Hsieh announced the imminent restart of the second reactor at Guosheng, which had been closed since May 2016, due to a glitch in its electrical grid.{{cite news |title=No. 2 nuke power plant's 2nd reactor could restart by end-March |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/201803150014 |access-date=3 December 2022 |agency=Central News Agency |date=15 March 2018}} Republished as: {{cite news |title=Guosheng's second reactor to be back online in weeks |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2018/03/16/2003689397 |access-date=3 December 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=16 March 2018}} He repeatedly reiterated the government's intent to phase out nuclear power by 2025, as well,{{cite news |last1=Lin |first1=Chia-nan |title=Council approves Taipower request to restart reactor |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2017/06/13/2003672476 |access-date=3 December 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=13 June 2017}} but was called to devise an updated policy alongside the Ministry of Economic Affairs when a proposal to repeal a related article in the Electricity Act was adopted during the 2018 Taiwanese referendum.{{cite news |title=MOEA to put forth new energy policy in two months |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/201811280020 |access-date=3 December 2022 |agency=Central News Agency |date=28 November 2018}} In 2019, Hsieh described proposals to activate the Lungmen Nuclear Power Plant as impractical for budgetary and seismological reasons,{{cite news |title=Latest survey finds active faults near nuclear plant: activists |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/society/201909230011 |access-date=3 December 2022 |agency=Central News Agency |date=23 September 2019}} Republished as: {{cite news |title=Fault lines should nix reactor proposal: group |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2019/09/24/2003722818 |access-date=3 December 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=24 September 2019}}{{cite news |title=Restarting No. 4 nuclear plant project could cost NT$70 billion: AEC |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/business/201903140013 |access-date=3 December 2022 |agency=Central News Agency |date=14 March 2019}} Republished as: {{cite news |last1=Lin |first1=Chia-nan |title=Finishing nuclear plant impractical: minister |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2019/03/15/2003711532 |access-date=3 December 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=15 March 2019}} and continued reporting on efforts to send fuel rods meant for the plant back to the United States.{{cite news |title=More fuel rods at fourth nuclear power plant sent back to U.S. |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202010210027 |access-date=3 December 2022 |agency=Central News Agency |date=21 October 2020}} In 2021, the Japanese government stated that it would begin releasing treated wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean. Taiwan's representative to Taiwan, Frank Hsieh, faced calls to report to the legislature and be recalled from or resign his post.{{cite news |last1=Hsiao |first1=Sherry |title=KMT urges recall of envoy to Japan |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2021/04/23/2003756212 |access-date=3 December 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=23 April 2021}} {{cite news |last1=Chen |first1=Yun |title=Lawmaker orders Japan envoy Frank Hsieh to report |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2021/04/25/2003756323 |access-date=3 December 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=25 April 2021}} {{cite news |last1=Chen |first1=Yun |last2=Chung |first2=Jake |title=KMT caucus calls for resignation of envoy to Japan |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2021/05/01/2003756643 |access-date=3 December 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=1 May 2021}} Following the Japanese announcement, the AEC sent a number of Taiwanese researchers to investigate wastewater discharged from Daiichi.{{cite news |title=Taiwan team to look into Fukushima nuclear plant's wastewater release |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202109280001 |access-date=3 December 2022 |agency=Central News Agency |date=28 September 2021}} Republished as: {{cite news |title=Taiwanese experts to examine Japan's plan to discharge contaminated water |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2021/09/29/2003765214 |access-date=3 December 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=29 September 2021}} {{cite news |last1=Madjar |first1=Kayleigh |title=Taiwanese team to visit Fukushima plant |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2022/03/22/2003775229 |access-date=3 December 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=22 March 2022}} Hsieh Shou-shing planned to send a Taiwanese delegation and government funds to participate in a United Nations mission to review Daiichi wastewater discharge.{{cite news |title=Taiwan to allocate NT$500 million to monitor Japan's radioactive water |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202104220017 |access-date=3 December 2022 |agency=Central News Agency |date=22 April 2021}} {{cite news |title=Taiwan seeks to join U.N. mission monitoring Japan wastewater plan |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202104210014 |access-date=3 December 2022 |agency=Central News Agency |date=21 April 2021}} {{cite news |title=Fukushima monitoring plans unveiled |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2021/04/23/2003756211 |access-date=3 December 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=23 April 2021}} The AEC also considered starting a fund to compensate Taiwanese fishers affected by contaminated wastewater.{{cite news |title=Taiwan mulls compensation claims in wake of Japan nuclear waste plan |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202104290025 |access-date=3 December 2022 |agency=Central News Agency |date=29 April 2021}}
In October 2022, Mirror Media reported on allegations of physical and verbal harassment against Hsieh, who was duly placed under investigation by the Executive Yuan, and granted leave in December.{{cite news |last1=Chen |first1=Cheng-yu |last2=Yang |first2=Yuan-ting |last3=Chung |first3=Jake |title=Cabinet to investigate harassment claims against atomic council boss: Su |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2022/10/05/2003786494 |access-date=3 December 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=5 October 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Wen |first1=Kuei-hsiang |last2=Ko |first2=Lin |title=Atomic energy minister takes leave over sexual harassment accusations |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202212030014 |access-date=3 December 2022 |agency=Central News Agency |date=3 December 2022}} Following the end of the investigation, Hsieh was removed from office on 11 January 2023.{{cite news |last1=Lai |first1=Yu-chen |last2=Tseng |first2=Chi-yi |last3=Lee |first3=Hsin-Yin |title=Atomic energy minister dismissed for sexual harassment |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202301110021 |access-date=12 January 2023 |agency=Central News Agency |date=11 January 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Chung |first1=Li-hua |last2=Chung |first2=Jake |title=AEC minister fired over sex harassment claims |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2023/01/12/2003792442 |access-date=12 January 2023 |date=12 January 2023}} In July, the Control Yuan voted unanimously to impeach Hsieh.{{cite news |title=Control Yuan impeaches former AEC minister |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/07/17/2003803326 |work=Taipei Times |date=17 July 2023}}
References
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Category:Politicians of the Republic of China on Taiwan from Hsinchu
Category:Ohio State University College of Engineering alumni
Category:Taiwanese mechanical engineers
Category:Fellows of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Category:21st-century Taiwanese engineers
Category:Drexel University alumni
Category:21st-century Taiwanese politicians
Category:20th-century Taiwanese engineers
Category:Tatung University alumni
Category:National Taiwan University alumni
Category:Taiwanese university and college faculty deans
Category:Academic staff of the National Sun Yat-sen University
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