Category：Politics

DPP lawmakers weigh in on ‘Opposition Leaders Summit’

The KMT and TPP’s Opposition Leaders Summit was not only closely watched by supporters, but also by members of the DPP. Let’s hear what they think about the meeting.

Rosalia Wu
Lawmaker (DPP)
They are two self-important and completely hollow party leaders that completely lack any knowledge of the Constitution and have a limited international outlook. They offered nothing new. There were no highlights. They wanted to appear united, but they just kept talking past the other. The summit today was all a farce, a bait and switch.

Wang Yi-chuan
Lawmaker (DPP)
They held a meeting without any content. At the start Eric Chu was doing fine. He talked about the US debt and the US dollar, which is his area of expertise. But then he started talking nonsense.

And it’s not just DPP lawmakers feeling like the meeting was lacking. During the meeting, Chu and Huang stated that they didn’t fully support a vote of no-confidence in the Cabinet. The stance was sharply criticized by former Broadcasting Corporation of China Chair Jaw Shaw-kong, who says they should have nothing to be afraid of. He urged Chu to reclaim control of the agenda and to stop getting swayed by the TPP.

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

#politics #taiwanpolitics #kmt #dpp #tpp #opposition

2025-04-22

TPP, KMT heads come together at opposition ‘summit’

The leaders of the two major opposition parties sat down together Tuesday morning, in a summit positioned as a platform to exchange views on domestic and international challenges Taiwan is currently facing. At the center of discussions were the months-long campaigns to recall KMT lawmakers as well as what the two parties perceive as the administration’s oppressions against them. Notably, TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang confirmed his participation at the anti-DPP rally this coming Sunday; while KMT Chair Eric Chu claimed the public wished for the president to step down the most.

KMT Chair Eric Chu and TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang shake hands before embracing each other when they appear on stage at the Opposition Leaders Summit.

According to the organizers, the summit aimed to be a platform for the two parties to exchange views on Taiwan’s domestic issues and international challenges for closer cooperation. Inevitably, the ruling party became a common focus.

Eric Chu
KMT chair
Taiwan can no longer afford internal strife and infighting. Every day the DPP hollers, “Recall them all! Success to all!” But when the people suffer from great economic loss and great economic slowdown, it’s the people of Taiwan that ends up losing.

Huang Kuo-chang
TPP chair
We’re sitting here together to communicate directly. One very important reason for this is for us to transcend party lines and factions. When they’re embroiled in an argument out there, there’s even less of a reason for us to fight our own and find targets to label as the enemy, and continue to incite conflict and hostility.

The recent raid of the KMT’s Taipei branch did not go unmentioned.

Eric Chu
KMT chair
First they raise the sword toward the TPP, the former chair of the TPP. And recently even toward the KMT. Exhibit A: Taipei branch head Ms. Huang Lu. Fortunately the judge ruled that there was no sufficient evidence to detain her for investigation.

Huang Kuo-chang
TPP chair
I really do feel it so deeply in my heart, everything you’ve described is what we, the Taiwan People’s Party has lived with over the past eight months.

Chu also took the opportunity to invite Huang to participate in the KMT’s anti-DPP rally this coming Sunday, to which Huang consented. As for their views on Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s suggestion for lawmakers to hold a no-confidence vote against their Cabinet, here’s what they have to say.

Huang Kuo-chang
TPP chair
Dismissing the Cabinet will not save Taiwan. Doing so also cannot rid the forces that are in fact seeking authoritarian rule.

Eric Chu
KMT chair
The one that everyone would like to see dismissed is called Lai Ching-te. Whether through dismissing the Cabinet or through recalls, or through any means, the power of the people will prevail. We won’t rule out any option. There must be a strategy, a way, a plan, a timeline that’s not only about dismissing the Cabinet but Lai.

With this meeting, the two parties are now even more aligned in their role as the opposition against the ruling DPP.

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

#politics #kmt #tpp #taiwanpolitics #dpp #在野領袖峰會 #藍白合 #426上凱道 #大罷免大成功

2025-04-22

KMT head under fire for participation in illegal rally

The KMT staged an illegal protest on a restricted area around the Taipei District Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday night. KMT supporters rallied against a probe into signature forgery, which recently saw the arrest of top KMT officials from its Taipei branch. The protest almost got out of control, as people shouted at the police and pushed down metal barricades. The police held up warning signs saying the protest was illegal, but KMT leader Eric Chu, lawmaker Hsieh Lung-chieh and KMT spokesperson Crystal Yang completely ignored them.

Opposition supporters are so emotional that they push down barricades outside the Taipei District Prosecutor’s Office.

KMT lawmakers join in the throngs pushing down the barricades as the scene becomes increasingly heated. They were dissatisfied with the Taipei District Prosecutor’s Office day after day repeatedly investigating campaigns to recall DPP legislators. Local branches of the KMT have been searched one after another, and the heads of these branches have been summoned for questioning. KMT party Chairman Eric Chu issued an order for party officials to protest on Thursday outside the Taipei District Prosecutor’s Office but the rally was an illegal one as the area around the office is deemed restricted.

Chang Chia-huang
Police officer
Mr. Eric Chu, Mr. Hsieh Lung-chieh, we’re holding up a warning sign. Please lead the crowd away as soon as possible.

The police held up warning signs, but the opposition supporters completely ignored them. Normally after holding up such warning signs three times, the police can forcibly evict protesters. But the police that day mainly used softer persuasion tactics and raised signs seven times, all of which were ignored. Therefore the police have formally notified the prosecutor’s office according to the laws on assembly and protests.

Cho Jung-tai
Premier
People have the freedom to express their opinions, but they must abide by the law during protest assemblies and rallies.

Liu Shyh-fang
Minister of the Interior
We will transfer all of the cases related to assembly and protest laws to the district prosecutor’s office for investigation, including whether they were inside a restricted area or any other nuisance behavior.

Hsieh Lung-chieh
Lawmaker (KMT)
Let’s go, bring it on!

With tensions between the opposition and ruling parties rising, the political and judicial ramifications will continue to escalate.

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

#taiwan #taiwanpolitics #kmt #dpp #朱立倫

2025-04-18

Taipei mayor attracts controversy by attending illegal rally

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an was among those attending the illegal gathering. Like other party members, he is under criticism for ignoring police warning signs. The DPP says that, as mayor, Chiang should not have taken the lead in breaking the law. They accuse the KMT of double standards – one rule for itself and the rest for everyone else.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an entered a restricted area at the Taipei District Prosecutor’s Office to show support for the head of the KMT’s Taipei branch, Huang Lu Chin-ju.

Chiang Wan-an (April 17)
Taipei mayor
At this time, we have seen the ruling DPP use the judiciary as a tool to suppress dissidents. I came here today and told colleagues at the police station to administer the law as they always do.

He asked the police to administer the law as they always do, but he still seemed to ignore the police when they held up placards twice ordering that an illegal gathering be dispersed. This caused the DPP to accuse Chiang of taking the lead in breaking the law.

Vincent Chao
Taipei City councilor (DPP)
Mayor Chiang Wan-an oversees the Taipei City Police Department and maintains order in the capital. Taking the lead in both lawbreaking and intimidating cops at the grassroots, Chiang Wan-an has defied the law. He shouldn’t have got involved but he gladly follows orders from the KMT central committee. KMT party discipline is always above the law.

Justin Wu
DPP spokesperson
Does the law have a double standard? One is that the KMT can do whatever it wants, and the other is that everyone else must abide by the law. Is this how Mayor Chiang Wan-an governs Taipei now?"

The DPP criticized Chiang for having double standards. After all, as the ruler of Taipei City, he went to support an illegal rally, but didn’t dare describe himself as a mayor.

Chiang Wan-an (April 17)
Taipei Mayor
I take all the responsibility for my actions tonight. As a citizen of the Republic of China, a citizen of Taipei, and a father of three children, I must stand up."

Yen Juo-fang
Taipei City councilor (DPP)
Mayor Chiang Wan-an, you said you would take responsibility for going there. What does it mean to take responsibility? Today in your capacity as mayor, you went to the site of an illegal rally and told everybody I have no way to protect everyone’s safety. Please take responsibility when you go to the site. If Mayor Chiang Wan-an has no way to protect the safety of citizens, then please stop being mayor.

The opposition held a six-hour-long illegal rally. At 6:46 p.m., long before Chiang arrived, the police had already raised a first warning sign. Still, Chiang entered the restricted area and spoke at 7.30 p.m. Before Chiang left, the police raised signs twice more.

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

#politics #taiwanpolitics #taipei #taiwan #蔣萬安 #kmt #dpp

2025-04-18

Four KMT office staff questioned in forgery probe

The Investigation Bureau on Thursday morning launched a raid of the KMT’s Taipei City office, reportedly in relation to a signature forgery probe. Four individuals have been arrested, including the branch head Huang Lu Chin-ju, and secretary general Yao Fu-wen.

The sudden raid comes after authorities discovered a large amount of potentially fraudulent petition signatures in a campaign against DPP Lawmakers Rosalia Wu and Wu Pei-yi. The similar handwriting of several petitions has led authorities to suspect foul play. KMT Chair Eric Chu has strongly criticized the investigation as persecution, but prosecutors say they are acting based on evidence.

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

2025-04-17

Legislator’s campaign truck urges Kaohsiung locals to join recall effort

With nationwide recall campaigns in full swing, Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chiu Yi-ying is ramping up promotion efforts. Although there are no campaigns to recall KMT legislators from Kaohsiung, Chiu is promoting the recall effort in the southern city using her own campaign truck. She is urging locals to contact friends and family in other cities to help gather more signatures.

A campaign truck drives along the streets of Kaohsiung, calling on locals to join the recall effort.

As the truck drives through the city, it plays videos urging locals to contact friends in other cities to encourage them to support the recall effort.

Although there are no campaigns to recall any KMT legislators from Kaohsiung, DPP Legislator Chiu Yi-ying is using her own campaign truck to increase support for the recall movement in southern Taiwan.

Chiu Yi-ying
DPP Legislator
The campaign truck drives to parks and markets, or other more crowded places. It plays videos on repeat to help the public understand how KMT and TPP legislators are violating the Constitution and causing chaos.

Chen Chieh-wen
Chiu’s assistant
Since the mass recall campaign started around early March, the truck started going around Kaohsiung calling on people to sign petitions to recall unfit KMT legislators.

In this critical stage of the mass recall campaign, Chiu’s videos are broadcast through the streets of Kaohsiung, urging more members of the public to join the recall effort.

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

#recall #politics #taiwanpolitics #KMT #DPP #TPP #Kaohsiung #罷免

2025-04-15

Education Ministry working on materials for national identity

The Ministry of Education is drafting up a set of supplementary materials regarding national identity in Taiwan. The move comes amid a string of reports in which teachers promoted a Chinese identity at school. A parent’s association says, that although having an awareness of national security issues is important, there should be room for independent thinking as well.

Ou Kuei-chih
Taipei First Girls High School teacher
If we continue to identify as Chinese, and return to this our shared culture, there will still be hope in our future.

Ou Kuei-chih, a teacher at Taipei First Girls High School, says that Chinese culture is the key to a hopeful future. Her pro-China comments have raised controversy, but she’s not alone. An elementary school teacher was recently reported to have told students that they were all Chinese. A DPP lawmaker is concerned about the impact of these incidents on student’s national identity.

Lin I-chin
Lawmaker (DPP)
Children of junior high age and younger are still developing their critical thinking skills, and they can be easily influenced on the front of national identity. How should we respond to instances like that?

Cheng Ying-yao
Education minister
We have teachers in subject advisory groups, who are drafting up materials regarding national identity. They include issues such as recognizing threats from China and identifying international trends.

Amid reports of educators trying to promote a Chinese identity at schools, the Ministry of Education is creating new teaching materials on identifying the Chinese threat and other international trends. The materials, which will be finalized before the summer break, aim to strengthen the national identity of students at elementary and junior high schools.

Hou Chun-liang
National Federation of Teachers Unions
I think it’s normal, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the curriculum or regular courses. They can be adjusted depending on current events.

Peng Shu-yen
National Alliance of Parents Organization
Every citizen should be aware of national security issues. It’s a universal value. If the government wants to provide the relevant materials and information to parents and children, it can be a good thing. But they should still be given space for independent thinking.

Teacher and parent associations have voiced their support for the measure, saying that the new materials will make social studies and civics courses richer and more diverse.

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

#education #nationalism #identity #Taiwanidentity #Taiwan #china

2025-04-15

Recall campaigners hard at work in UK, Germany, US

Taiwan’s recall campaigners are out in full force, even overseas. In the UK volunteers are collecting signed petitions from Taiwanese living abroad. They collect the relevant documents and send them back to Taiwan taking care to follow all the relevant rules. They also strictly vet volunteers willing to help out, to make sure no bad actors join or leak personal information. Let’s hear more.

Mr. T
Volunteer in recall campaign
When we screen volunteers, they all have to go through an interview, during which we assess the person’s background and ask them to sign a confidentiality agreement. We collect all the signatures according to the highest standards. I hope that every time I go back home I can do so with a Taiwan passport. And that when I return, Taiwan will still be a free and democratic country.

Ms. J
Volunteer in recall campaign
KMT and TPP lawmakers have made unreasonable cuts to the national budget. As citizens of Taiwan, if we do not speak up today, we will not have the opportunity to do so in the future. So we are making our voices heard with recalls.

Camaigners set up a picnic mat at St. James’ Park in London, with a sign in the center saying “recall” in Bopomofo. That’s because campaigners want to avoid using Characters that Chinese people may be able to recognize and cause trouble. There are also similar groups in other countries, including Germany and the US. Last weekend, campaigners set up stands at places where young Taiwanese gather near New York University, to promote the campaign.

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

#recall #taiwannews #politics #taiwanpolitics #罷免

2025-04-14

Convenience stores to become wartime community hubs: The Guardian

Convenience stores are a part of Taiwanese people’s daily lives, and now they may be used as supply centers should Taiwan get embroiled in a war. British daily The Guardian has published a report that the Taiwan government is considering turning your local 7-11 into a wartime community hub, as part of a plan to protect its population if China attacks. Legislator Wang Ting-yu says it hasn’t been decided whether convenience stores would be incorporated into a wartime mechanism for material delivery, but maximizing the resilience of the whole society is the aim of the government.

Open 24-7, convenience stores provide all kinds of food, daily necessities, communications services and other functions to meet customers’ needs. Now as the cross-strait situation gets more and more tense, The Guardian has reported that Taiwan’s convenience stores may be used to play an even more important role.

Titled, “Don’t panic, but don’t relax: Taiwan’s plan ‘to use 7-Eleven chains’ as wartime hubs,” the piece opens with a depiction of wartime Taiwan.

“No one knows for sure what a Chinese attack on Taiwan will look like, but there are some assumptions made by government planners,” the article says. It continues by saying that “Outside assistance would almost certainly be cut off by a blockade. Domestic train lines might be taken out, and airspaces closed to non-military flights. The internet and maybe phone signal would probably be cut off.”

While it doesn’t mention any names, the report cites a high-level government committee that is investigating the feasibility of turning the island’s more than 13,000 convenience stores into wartime community hubs, where citizens could pick up rations and medical supplies, delivered by the chains’ own logistical transport systems.

Wang Ting-yu
Lawmaker (DPP)
Given the dense network they’re in, the convenience stores throughout Taiwan are community centers for consumption, information acquisition, and interpersonal relationships. When there’s a natural disaster or enemy attack, such a social network can be very effective, of course.

In mid-April, the 2025 Urban Resilience Exercises will be held in 11 cities and counties with three main focuses: physical onsite exercises, cross-agency coordination, and the sustainability of daily life.

Wang Ting-yu
Lawmaker (DPP)
It hasn’t been decided whether convenience stores will be incorporated into a wartime mechanism for material delivery and information dissemination, but the "resilience of society as a whole" requires that everyone takes responsibility to contribute to the security of their loved ones and their country.

Wang Ting-yu stressed that in the face of natural disasters and military threats, the people of Taiwan must be prepared during peacetime so as to maximize the resilience of the whole of society.

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

2025-04-13

US expects Taiwan to increase defense spending

The Trump administration is expected to be very tough with Taiwan as it mounts pressure on the country to increase defense spending. Elbridge Colby, Trump’s under secretary of defense for policy, has even recently said it should be 10% of Taiwan’s GDP. This contrasts with President Lai Ching-te’s recent promise to push it to just over 3%. However, in good news for Taiwan, a former American de facto ambassador says the 10% of GDP figure is not realistic, and another former US defense official says while there were American worries in the past that Taiwan was too complacent about its defense spending, he’s noted the DPP government is now getting serious. Let’s hear what everyone had to say.

In response to expected US pressure to spend more on defense, the government is preparing to increase military procurements that will raise this year’s defense budget to over 3% of GDP. Although this is lower than the 10% expected by US Pentagon officials, former AIT Director William Brent Christensen bluntly said not to put too much weight on the numbers.

William Brent Christensen
Former AIT Director
I don’t think we need to get too fixated on what percentage of GDP is being spent on this. They’ll never get 10%. That’s not realistic. Taiwan’s spending on defense probably does not include expenses that are being devoted to civil defense, the whole resilience program, it is pretty much is part of the overall defense strategy that Taiwan’s founding.

A former American defense official also admitted that the U.S. had doubts about Taiwan’s attitude to its self-defense in the past, but these doubts were gradually dissipating.

Derek James Mitchell
Former US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
I think there are folks here in the United States over the years who have been concerned that Taiwan has not been serious enough about its defense. There’s been complacency: Well, the Americans will take care of it or the Americans will come to our defense on the one hand, or it’s just not going to happen. I think the DPP is serious. I think they’re now getting serious.

Derek James Mitchell, a former American defense official, believes that the US must speed up delivery of American weaponry that’s already been ordered. Local experts echo his views.

Su Tzu-yun
Institute for National Defense and Security Research
Combat systems including air defense missiles, anti-ship missiles, and even drones will constitute the main investments, because they are low-priced, highly efficient, and are particularly suitable for defensive operations. If the direction of investment in our military build up can be even more in accordance with this, then Taiwan will have sufficient power to stop a PRC invasion.

Taiwan’s army is adopting a multi-pronged approach to strengthen its combat capabilities in response to increasingly severe cross-strait tensions.

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

#USArmsDeals #Taiwan’sdefense

2025-04-11