Taiwan is close to formally approving the restart of its third nuclear plant, a win for the opposition KMT's pro-nuclear stance and an awkward reversal for the ruling DPP.

• The nuclear safety regulator has finished its technical review of the restart plan and is completing the final approval paperwork.
• Once approved, state utility Taipower will check and repair equipment, aiming to get the plant ready to run within this year or next.
• The KMT is demanding President Lai Ching-te apologize for the failed push to make Taiwan nuclear-free, saying the policy cost the island dearly in energy terms.
• The DPP hit back that KMT figures, including former chair Eric Chu and New Taipei mayor Hou Yu-ih, once campaigned against nuclear power themselves.
• The KMT frames electricity as a competitiveness issue: no power means no computing power, no chip and AI industry, and weaker defense.

Outlook: Formal approval looks likely soon, with the plant expected to come back online gradually over the next year as the energy fight becomes a central political battle.