KMT Chair-elect says Putin is ‘not a dictator’ during interview

KMT Chair-elect says Putin is ‘not a dictator’ during interview

2025-10-31

KMT Chair-elect Cheng Li-wun has come under heavy criticism from the DPP, after saying that Russia’s Vladimir Putin is “not a dictator.” She made the comment during an interview with a Deutshe Welle reporter. The exchange started off rather rigid, and things heated up further after the interviewer tried to draw a parallel between the Russia-Ukraine war and cross-strait relations.

KMT Chair-elect Cheng Li-wun recently gave an interview with Deutsche Welle’s Taipei office head Tsou Tsung-han, and from the start, it was tense.

– How much do you think military expenditure should be as a percentage of GDP?
- Do you know how much Japan’s military budget is this year?
- Well, China’s military expenditures continue to rise.
– If you want to look at cross-strait security purely by the numbers…
– Of course I don’t!

In barely three minutes, the interaction turns hostile. The two obviously disagree over their views on Taiwan’s military expenditures and Taiwan’s agency in cross-strait conflict.

- Whether Taiwan becomes like Ukraine or not is not for Taiwan to decide, but Xi Jinping. I’ll let you know…

– I completely disagree.
– It’s just you who disagrees.
– Aren’t you interviewing me? If you’re not willing to listen to me, why bother interviewing me?
– I’m not done with my question.

Tsou says he’s not done with his question, while Cheng feels like he’s cutting her off. Soon, Cheng dropped what’s arguably the biggest bombshell.

- It’s up to the dictators to make that decision, not to other democratic regimes.
- Putin is not a dictator. He was democratically elected.
- Putin’s not a dictator? You’ve just come up with a new international theory.

Netizens say the interview was more like getting Cheng into a debate.

Cheng Li-wun
KMT Chair-elect
People may hold certain presumptions or misunderstandings against us. Through opportunities for conversation, we hope that more people will get to understand the KMT. Putin also went through democratic elections and was elected with votes for him, so I was surprised he was called a dictator.

Wang Ting-yu
Lawmaker (DPP)
That kind of reasoning will leave anyone with the barest amount of common sense on international affairs gasping, whether in laughter or shock. Those who oppose Putin are either in jail or in heaven. This view of the universe is completely the same as the worldview created by the CCP.

KMT politicians never seem to have good experiences with the media outlet. Some may still remember how outgoing Chair Eric Chu called the end of an interview when time was up, also with Deutsche Welle.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#taiwanpolitics #kmt #dpp #DW #鄭麗文 #鄒宗翰

鄭麗文接受外媒專訪爆火氣! 脫口驚語"普丁不是獨裁者"

2025-10-31

準國民黨主席鄭麗文接受外媒德國之聲專訪，但他們在兩岸、軍費等議題來回交鋒，甚至鄭麗文脫口"普丁不是獨裁者"，綠營直呼"讓人驚掉下巴"。網友評論"比較像來辯論的"，鄭麗文說"希望透過對話讓更多人了解國民黨"。

準國民黨主席鄭麗文接受外媒德國之聲記者鄒宗翰專訪，但訪著訪著，氣氛不太對勁。

-您認為軍費應該佔GDP多少?
-你知道日本今年國防預算是多少嗎?
-中國軍費也在增加
-現在台海安全，如果你要用這麼簡化的數字的話
-當然不是啊

開場問到軍費，就火藥味十足，再問到台灣衝突的決定權在誰手上時，更針鋒相對。

-(台灣會不會變烏克蘭)決定權並不在台灣手上，而是在習近平手上。那我跟您報告…
-我完全不這麼認為
-那是您不這麼認為
-你不是訪問我嗎，那你不想聽我的話，你何必訪問我
-我還沒提問完

記者題目還沒問完，鄭麗文就連連搖頭，更說她眼中的普丁，不是獨裁者。

-(戰爭)能決定的是獨裁者，而不是其他民主政權
-普丁不是獨裁者，他是民主選出的
-普丁不是獨裁者?你這開啟新國際理論

有網友看完專訪，直呼鄭麗文比較像來辯論的。

[[準國民黨主席鄭麗文]]
“對我們有什麼樣成見或是誤解，(透過)對話的機會，讓更多朋友了解國民黨。普丁他也是經過民主選舉，一票票選出來，所以我很驚訝把他講成獨裁者。”

[[立委(民) 王定宇]]
“這樣的說法，讓稍微有國際常識的人，都會笑掉，或嚇掉下巴。反對普丁的人，不是在監牢，就是在天堂。這種宇宙觀，完全跟中國共產黨，形塑的世界觀一模一樣。”

朱立倫先前上德國之聲被問是否選總統，以時間到為由結束訪談，藍營連著兩任主席面對同家外媒，都不歡而散。

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Dr. Anya Phelan is a Senior Lecturer and Discipline Lead in Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Griffith Business School in Australia. Her work focuses on circular innovation, circular economy, social entrepreneurship, and sustainable development. During her visit, Dr. Phelan gave lectures at a university and spoke at a forum about circular economy, sustainable innovation and inclusive entrepreneurship.Her speeches emphasized the importance of the circular economy and empowering marginalized communities through business models that honor tradition while embracing modern markets.

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Dr. Phelan says that Taiwan stands out as a global leader in resource recovery and technological efficiency. She believes the world has much to learn from Taiwan’s innovative and sustainable practices.

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After stepping on the scooter and kicking off, the rider can activate its motor and swiftly move forward without any physical effort. In recent years, motorized electric scooters have become an increasingly popular mode of transportation.

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