About 65 percent cast doubt on the government's nuclear crisis management skills while 55 percent have no confidence in the safety of the island's three nuclear plants, according to a poll of 1,202 people by the TVBS news channel.

Concerns have risen over the safety of Taiwan's nuclear installations amid a nuclear crisis in Japan evolving after a power plant was severely damaged in last week's massive quake.

About 100 environmentalists protested outside the Taiwanese cabinet earlier Thursday against plans to build a new plant while 10 anti-nuclear groups are planning to stage a mass rally in Taipei on Sunday, organisers said.

Taiwan, like Japan, is in an earthquake-prone part of the Pacific basin.