As the impeachment voting day on July 26 approaches in Taiwan, the society has witnessed an uncommon grassroots movement calling for the removal of opposition lawmakers closely tied to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Analysts point out that the core of the impeachment is against CCP’s infiltration into Taiwan, as the CCP has long been manipulating Taiwanese media and public opinion, leading to a strong backlash from the people.
On July 23, the Mainland Affairs Council of Taiwan issued a rare statement using strong language to condemn the CCP’s blatant interference in the impeachment vote scheduled for July 26. The statement criticized the CCP’s “open intervention” through various platforms such as Weibo, Douyin, and WeChat, with hundreds of videos and articles being disseminated to manipulate public opinion in Taiwan.
The Mainland Affairs Council emphasized that the impeachment vote is a fundamental right in a democratic country, and Beijing has no authority to interfere in the democratic choices of the Taiwanese people. The council also urged the CCP to reflect on whether it truly upholds freedom of speech for its own people, rather than suppressing civil society internally while attempting to meddle in Taiwan’s domestic affairs.
The impeachment movement, initiated by civil society organizations, targets 24 Kuomintang lawmakers and the currently suspended mayor of Hsinchu City, receiving support from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) with the slogan “Approve impeachment for stronger anti-communism.”
The impeachment process, spearheaded by civil society organizations, with the first round of voting scheduled on July 26 covering the aforementioned lawmakers, and the second round set for August 23.
Lai Rongwei, Executive Director of the Taiwan Inspiration Association (TIA), stated that the fundamental motivation behind the impeachment by the Taiwanese people is to resist CCP’s infiltration into Taiwan. He criticized some lawmakers for proposing controversial bills following meetings with senior CCP officials in Beijing, which he described as exceeding democratic limits and processes.
These bills, which expand the power of lawmakers, include demands for companies to disclose trade secrets, arbitrary cuts to government budget, and drastic reductions in funding for cultural agencies and the Mainland Affairs Council.
The impeachment assembly’s participant, DPP lawmaker Shen Boyang, denounced these actions as paralyzing rather than supervising the government, accusing these lawmakers of serving as CCP agents and transforming the Taiwanese Legislative Yuan into a rubber stamp similar to Hong Kong’s under CCP control.
Speculations arose questioning whether the impeachment was orchestrated by the ruling DPP (green camp) as a political maneuver. According to Lai Rongwei, civil society groups demonstrated strong public opinion before persuading the DPP to join the cause.
The civil impeachment movement began in May 2024, with the DPP officially joining in March of this year. However, civil society groups have taken the lead, while the DPP plays a supporting role.
The DPP later adopted the slogan “Approve impeachment for stronger anti-communism,” with President Lai Ching-te voicing support, stating it is the people’s response to national security.
Lai Rongwei further emphasized that CCP’s recent actions, such as subsidizing airfares for Taiwan businessmen to return and vote, and holding press conferences criticizing the ruling party, indicated CCP’s continuous misjudgment of Taiwanese public opinion, as it only resulted in stronger opposition.
According to the Institute for Observing Research of the CCP (IORG) specializing in analyzing CCP official media, the CCP-affiliated media outlets have published 425 articles and videos in the first half of this year, labeling the impeachment movement as “dictatorial” or “green terror.”
Historian Li Yuanhua, residing in Australia, stated that the CCP has heavily invested in infiltrating Taiwanese media over the years, turning certain Taiwanese media into “mouthpieces” through extensive propaganda and financial support, manipulating public opinion in the information war.
Li emphasized that the CCP does not allow democratic development in Taiwan, as it poses a stark contrast to its own system. This is the fundamental reason why the CCP interferes with Taiwan’s democratic system.
When asked if Taiwanese people fear a CCP-led war, Lai Rongwei stated that while no one desires war, Taiwan seeks peace, which cannot be built on submission and compromise. He emphasized that CCP’s history of oppressive rule in Tibet and Xinjiang, targeting Uighurs and Tibetans, demonstrates their lack of sincerity toward dissenting opinions, including Taiwan.
Li Yuanhua added that the CCP aims to integrate Taiwan into its control system without using military force, infiltrating the political scene through proxies, controlling public opinion, and ultimately changing the country’s course. He warned that Taiwanese people should not underestimate the CCP’s ambitions and should not permit pro-CCP politicians to represent them.
Lai Rongwei stressed that reaching the third stage of the impeachment vote signifies the accumulation of strong public discontent within Taiwanese society. He emphasized it’s not about political parties but about civil society’s efforts to repair the malfunction of representative politics.
He believes that while the impeachment process may have high thresholds, the rationality and political judgment of voters cannot be ignored, showcasing the self-healing capacity of democratic systems.
He called on the international community, stating that Taiwan and China fundamentally differ, with Taiwan being a sovereign nation with a robust democratic system and an independent civil society. Lai stressed that Taiwanese people seek democracy and peace, not dictatorship and compromise.
Regarding Taiwan’s rare display of a firm stance, Lai Rongwei explained that President Lai Ching-te’s statement labeling China as an enemy underscores China’s ongoing annexation of Taiwan through practical actions. He emphasized that when facing interference from an enemy state, the government must respond firmly to protect the Taiwanese people.
Interviewed experts unanimously agree that Taiwan can only gain understanding and support from the international community by bravely expressing its sovereignty. As Li Yuanhua put it, “Instead of living in a subdued manner, it is better to stand up proudly as a defender of national sovereignty.”