logo
Taiwan's opposition parties KMT and TPP look to build on momentum from recall votes

Taiwan's opposition parties KMT and TPP look to build on momentum from recall votes

Taiwan's main opposition party the Kuomintang and the smaller Taiwan People's Party have been 're-energised' by
last weekend's failed recall votes
The result was widely seen as a major setback for the island's leader William Lai Ching-te and a turning point for the so-called Blue-White alliance between the two opposition parties.
Saturday's unprecedented recall vote, which targeted 24 KMT lawmakers accused of blocking key legislation and jeopardising the island's security, ended with none losing their seats.
A second round next month will target seven more KMT legislators, but observers say the chances of their removal are even slimmer given their stronger support in home districts.
'This wasn't just a failed recall – it was a political miscalculation that re-energised the opposition,' said a KMT official who spoke on condition of anonymity. 'More importantly, it allowed us to deepen coordination with the TPP in ways voters clearly supported.'
The outcome has given the informal KMT-TPP coalition momentum heading into the 2026 local government elections and even the race in 2028 to elect the island's next leader.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Republicans, usually strong Taiwan supporters, stay quiet about denying US stopover to Lai
Republicans, usually strong Taiwan supporters, stay quiet about denying US stopover to Lai

South China Morning Post

time2 hours ago

  • South China Morning Post

Republicans, usually strong Taiwan supporters, stay quiet about denying US stopover to Lai

The White House's apparent decision to block Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te's transit through New York has sparked backlash from Democrats but met with relative silence from Republicans, including those typically outspoken about Taiwan. The muted Republican response marks a notable shift for a party that has in recent years championed high-profile engagement with Taipei – including symbolic moves that Democrats have avoided. It also comes amid high-stakes US-China trade negotiations that some observers have suggested is motivating the posture. On Monday, three Democratic representatives – Raja Krishnamoorthi, the senior Democrat on the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party; Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee; and Gregory Stanton, a co-chair of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus – sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio raising 'grave concern' over the decision. Stopping Lai's transit represented a 'stark departure from precedent', the Democrats wrote, and 'sends a dangerous signal to Beijing about our willingness to make concessions with regard to our national strategic interests'. 'We call on you to approve any requested transit by President Lai and reaffirm the United States' long-standing policy regarding Taiwan,' they continued.

Trump stands on White House roof, jokes about building nuclear missiles
Trump stands on White House roof, jokes about building nuclear missiles

South China Morning Post

timea day ago

  • South China Morning Post

Trump stands on White House roof, jokes about building nuclear missiles

Donald Trump made an unexpected appearance on Tuesday on a White House rooftop and joked about installing nuclear missiles at a time of escalating tensions with Russia. Advertisement The US president, flanked by bodyguards and under the protection of snipers, strolled for 20 minutes on the flat roof above the press room as he looked across to the site of his proposed new ballroom. Asked why he was on the roof, he replied he was just 'taking a little walk'. At one point, he said he was looking at 'another way to spend my money for this country'. Quizzed about what he intended to build, he joked 'nuclear missiles', before appearing to mimic the launch of a weapon with his arm. Reporters gather on the West Wing driveway as they wait for US President Donald Trump to appear on the roof of the White House on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters The United States and Russia have engaged in heated rhetoric for several days.

What price will Taiwan pay to blunt Trump's tariffs? Reports spark worries over US demands
What price will Taiwan pay to blunt Trump's tariffs? Reports spark worries over US demands

South China Morning Post

time6 days ago

  • South China Morning Post

What price will Taiwan pay to blunt Trump's tariffs? Reports spark worries over US demands

Taiwan is increasingly anxious about whether it must make sweeping concessions – including a reported US$400 billion investment pledge – to avoid a looming 32 per cent tariff from the United States, set to take effect on Friday. Advertisement Adding to the uncertainty are reports that planned visits to the US by Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te and Defence Minister Wellington Koo Li-hsiung were deferred at the last minute. Analysts said the developments were far from coincidental and might mark a deliberate effort by Washington to dial down Taiwan-related tensions as it sought a breakthrough in trade talks with Beijing. The tariff threat stems from US President Donald Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariff campaign launched in April, which aims to impose duties matching those faced by American exporters. While most major trading partners have reached agreements, Taiwan remains among a small group still negotiating its final rate. Citing reports by foreign news outlets, including Bloomberg, Taiwanese media said on Thursday that Washington was demanding that Taiwan match the investment commitments made by Japan and South Korea – US$550 billion and US$350 billion respectively – to qualify for the lowest 15 per cent tariff tier. Advertisement Taiwan is reportedly considering a US$300-400 billion package, equivalent to four years of the island's central government budget.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store