‘Failure’ for Taiwan’s William Lai as all 24 opposition KMT lawmakers survive mass recall vote
Outcome exposes public fatigue with ruling DPP and leader William Lai’s anti-Beijing rhetoric as a blanket strategy, analysts say
All 24 lawmakers from the Beijing-friendly KMT who faced recall votes survived, in what analysts described as a serious political miscalculation by the DPP and its affiliated civil society groups.
The backfiring of the DPP’s high octane campaign, which was championed as a way to root out “pro-China forces” and safeguard Taiwan’s democracy, exposes growing public fatigue with “anti-China” rhetoric as a blanket strategy.
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All 24 opposition Kuomintang lawmakers in Taiwan survive mass recall campaign
Beijing, which regards Taiwan as a part of China to be reunited by force if necessary, has intensified military pressure on the island since Lai took office in May last year and provoked Beijing with what it calls “separatist” and pro-independence remarks.
The United States, like most countries, does not recognise self-governed Taiwan as independent. However, it is opposed to any unilateral change to the status quo and is committed to supplying Taiwan with weapons for defence.
Voter turnout on Saturday was nearly 60 per cent – remarkably high for a recall vote, which historically draws just slightly over 50 per cent.
According to Taiwan’s election law, lawmakers who survive a recall effort are protected from facing another during the remainder of their term, which for this legislature ends in 2028.