TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The mayor of Taiwan's capital has publicly rebuked his own party chairman for drawing parallels between Taiwan's president and Nazi Germany. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) criticized Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) on Friday (May 9) for inappropriately comparing President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) administration to the Nazi regime, while noting that politicians from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) have made similar inflammatory comparisons.
The controversial Nazi comparison triggered a diplomatic response from the German Institute Taipei (德國在台協會), Germany's de facto embassy in Taiwan, which expressed concern and disapproval over Chu's rhetoric. When confronted about the matter during a city council session by DPP Councilor Hung Jian-yi (洪健益), Mayor Chiang did not defend his party chairman, instead acknowledging that such historical comparisons were inappropriate.
Mayor Chiang called for political consistency, stressing that all public figures — regardless of party affiliatio — should apply uniform standards when invoking Nazi Germany or Hitler in political discourse and should demonstrate respect for historical accuracy. When Councilor Hung pushed further, questioning whether Chiang believed Taiwan lacked democratic values, the mayor diplomatically responded that Taiwan's citizens maintain varied viewpoints and perspectives on governance.
In a pointed counterargument, Chiang noted that DPP politicians — particularly those governing in Taiwan's southern regions, a traditional stronghold for the ruling party — have previously made comparable Nazi-related statements without facing equivalent criticism. The mayor specifically mentioned Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁), suggesting that all political figures, regardless of party affiliation or regional power base, should be subjected to identical standards when determining if apologies for such rhetoric are warranted. ★
