As anti-nuclear opposition continues to mount, Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou has decided to seal off the fourth nuclear power plant, which has been under construction for more than 10 years and cost tens of billions dollars. Ma said he was helpless, and the management of the Taiwan Power Company, also known as Taipower, announced the shutdown of plant construction would be the doomsday for the company.

Considering the large capacity of the fourth plant, sealing it off will not only lead to the bankruptcy of Taipower, but also eliminate potential in Taiwan's economy.

This anti-nuclear protest in Taiwan shares many similarities with the opposition against the construction of paraxylene and other chemical factories around cities in the mainland.

The hysteria of protesters in Taiwan shows their stupidity about this nuclear issue. They should have demanded the government shut down three other nuclear plants altogether if they really want to realize "ecological idealism." Such stupidity also mirrors what the mainland has done in carrying out these chemical projects.

It is understandable that most people would see a chemical factory as a threat to their life and safety if they live nearby. But society must use science to defeat ignorance, and help local residents overcome their concerns.

As the biggest patron of the anti-nuclear protest, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has abused its power for the interests of a single party at the cost of the entire island. The DPP seldom makes good scores in igniting populism in the society of Taiwan, but by playing up extreme ecologism, it can deal a heavy blow to the Kuomintang without taking high risks. This protest has turned into a political weapon of the DPP instead of an appeal for ecological protection.

Although without political opposition to fan the fire in the mainland, some protests against chemical factories were also manipulated by a few groups which tried to expand their influence by calling for irrational requirements. They abetted these protests to gain a solid and legitimate grounding in public opinion, but the negative influence can't be eliminated overnight.

The mainland local governments are too clumsy to establish an effective communication mechanism with the public, which is one of the major reasons why so many chemical factories are opposed by local residents.

But the protest in Taiwan has also taught the mainland a lesson that no matter how hard the government tries, once a negative tendency of public opinion has taken shape, it is difficult to reverse.

So how to detect and get rid of irrationality in public opinion is the key to unlock the deadlock of the chemical factory crisis.

Local governments in the mainland have to put most emphasis on how to build an efficient executive force. It is a challenge to the authorities, and it cannot be skipped.