Taiwan’s “Great Recall” movement continues to gain momentum. According to the latest statistics from the Central Election Commission, 35 recall cases involving Kuomintang lawmakers have entered the second-stage signature collection process, with an additional 8 Democratic Progressive Party lawmakers also facing recall petitions.
Observers note that the recall movement transcends traditional party lines, with even members from the ruling party joining in the efforts to recall lawmakers viewed as proxies for the Chinese Communist Party. This movement has evolved into a significant civic action aimed at purging the parliament of CCP influences and restoring it to its rightful path.
The current wave of “Great Recall” across Taiwan began after the 11th Legislative Yuan lawmakers marked their first anniversary in office on February 1st. Pursuant to Taiwan’s laws governing recall of public officials, those serving less than a year are ineligible for recall.
After nearly two months of campaigning, the Central Election Commission announced on March 28th that in addition to the 35 Kuomintang lawmaker recall cases, there are now 8 Democratic Progressive Party lawmakers facing recall petitions, bringing the total to 43 lawmakers facing or potentially facing recall.
On March 29th, the second stage signature collection for the nationwide recall movement entered a vigorous promotion phase. Leading the charge, protest organizer and popular singer, “Zhu Toupi” Zhuyuexin, held an “Anti-Communist Concert” in the Dan-Ben-Chao area, inviting 11 recall groups to set up booths and collect signatures from the public for the 35 recall petitions against blue-leaning lawmakers. The event featured speakers from politics, academia, music industry, and social media influencers.
With the upcoming spring break for Taiwanese students, the DPP Youth Division held a press conference at the party headquarters on March 28th, launching a new round of recall TV advertisements urging university students to return to their hometowns during the break and participate in the second-stage recall signature collection.
Similarly, recall movement leader, former TSMC chairman, Cao Xingcheng, is set to kick off a “Clearing the Way for Public Opinion, Advancing Democracy” recall campaign caravan on Monday (the 31st), calling on the 35 recalled Kuomintang lawmakers to heed the public sentiment.
In response to the chaotic parliamentary proceedings, the “Great Recall” movement gained traction. Civil groups initiated the “Bluebird Movement,” with calls to recall certain KMT lawmakers, leading to the DPP openly advocating for the comprehensive recall of all KMT legislators in various districts. In turn, the KMT retaliated by launching recall campaigns against DPP lawmakers, culminating in a nationwide recall movement.
Discussing the situation, veteran Japanese journalist, Akeo Yaita, in an interview with Epoch Times, remarked that the “Great Recall” movement has gained momentum due to the clarity of the demands made by the recall groups, which aim to rid the legislature of CCP proxies, a sentiment that resonates with the public. In contrast, the KMT, as the defending party, has struggled to articulate a clear narrative, failing to justify why the 8 DPP lawmakers should be recalled.
Yaita emphasized the need for persuasive arguments in politics, suggesting that if one’s message fails to sway others, they are essentially defeated. He views the Great Recall as a massive civic movement in Taiwan.
Figures like Cao Xingcheng, Li Qiao, and Zhuyuexin, all from outside the political sphere, being pushed into leadership roles in the recall movement, highlight the deep-rooted political issues in Taiwan, according to Yaita.
Recent developments have seen the rise of the so-called “True Blue Army” party advocating for Taiwan’s sovereignty and against communist influence. They have set up recall stations, urging KMT supporters to recall lawmakers regarded as communist sympathizers and staged car rallies to promote national wide recalls.
Taiwanese historian Li Wencheng, on a program, highlighted that traditionally blue strongholds in Taipei faced difficulties in recalling their lawmakers, but the initial recall petition stages for many went smoothly, signaling a shift in sentiments.
Former vice-secretary of the Lee Teng-hui Foundation and second-generation Mainlander, Zhu Mengxiang, revealed on social media that the current “Great Recall” movement has even garnered support from within the blue camp, with a long-time KMT member expressing concerns over communist influences within the parliament.
Residents like 28-year-old John Lai from New Taipei City, view the Great Recall as a move to purge CCP elements in Taiwan. Lai emphasized that young Taiwanese can see through lawmakers who align with the CCP and attempt to steer Taiwan’s public opinion towards adopting CCP strategies. The overwhelming support for the recalls, with all 35 reaching the second-phase signature collection, shows a united front crossing party lines in opposition to the CCP’s influence.
Recent global developments, exposure to CCP’s united front tactics, documentaries exposing organ harvesting, and other factors have significantly influenced Taiwanese youth, fueling their inclination to join the anti-communist movement, according to John Lai.
The “Great Recall” movement has evolved into a platform for various citizens to band together against CCP influence, transcending traditional party affiliations in Taiwan and aiming to restore the parliament to its core democratic principles.