Taiwan People’s Party

Controversy Breaks Out Over Use of Chinese Parts at Taiwanese Military Bases

Brian Hioe
TPP legislator Huang Kuo-chang recently publicized the fact that banned Chinese-made parts are being used at a number of army bases, in that renewable energy initiatives on bases have come to use Chinese telecommunications devices. This included computer control systems, power inverters, and routers, which Huang stated were in use at the Hungchailin Army Base, National Defense University, and Naval Fleet Command...
EnglishJuly 2024Politics5 min read

KMT Delegation Visits Itu Aba/Taiping Island to Pressure Incoming Lai Administration

Brian Hioe
Ten KMT legislators visited Itu Aba/Taiping Island yesterday. Originally, a delegation of twenty legislators were to visit Itu Aba/Taiping Island, but clashes in the legislature over efforts by the KMT to expand legislative powers to allow for the ability to question private individuals and organizations and prosecute them if they do not comply went on into the late night on Friday. As such, half of the original delegation canceled. The visit was likely timed for before the Lai inauguration tomorrow, but the visit has since become overshadowed by news of the clashes, which in itself has become the main news item that casts a shadow over the inauguration...
EnglishInternationalMay 2024Regional Tensions8 min read

KMT Puts Forward Controversial Legislator for Defense Committee, Former TPP Spokesperson Faces Prosecution

Brian Hioe
Former TPP spokesperson Ma Chih-wei faces charges over accepting funding from the Chinese government for an independent legislative run. Prosecutors recommended yesterday that Ma face three years and eight months in jail, as well as a two million NTD fine. This is a hefty fine and prison term for a country in which spying charges have historically been treated with lighter sentences than for cannabis charges...
EnglishMarch 2024Politics6 min read

Ko’s TPP Shrugs Off Cult Allegations

Brian Hioe
Young supporters of Ko Wen-je’s TPP have recently been criticized as “cult-like” after videos of high schoolers selling “Little Grass ID cards.” The ID cards are sold for 500 NT each, leading to criticisms of the TPP that it is brainwashing children and that it is seeking to raise money in the manner of a direct sales scam...
EnglishJanuary 2024Politics5 min read

What Does Fu Kun-Chi’s Challenge to the KMT Legislative Presidency Ticket Indicate?

Brian Hioe
The contest over who will be the next speaker of the Legislative Yuan is on. The DPP hopes for Yu Shyi-kun to continue serving as president of the Legislative Yuan. By contrast, the KMT has aligned behind a joint ticket of its 2020 presidential candidate, Han Kuo-yu, and its former chair, Johnny Chiang. As part of this ticket, Han would become president and Chiang would become vice president...
EnglishJanuary 2024Politics7 min read