TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The mayor of Taiwan's second-largest city called for greater focus on economic relief measures rather than political rhetoric on Wednesday (June 25), responding to a recent presidential address on cross-strait relations. Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) urged Taiwan's central government to prioritize policies that would ease financial pressures on ordinary citizens, following President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) speech calling for unity between Taiwan-centric and Republic of China (ROC, 中華民國) factions in defending against what he characterized as aggression from the People's Republic of China (PRC, 中華人民共和國).
The Taichung mayor specifically highlighted the growing impact of inflation on everyday Taiwanese, advocating for concrete policy interventions addressing tariffs and currency exchange rates that directly affect consumer prices. While expressing respect for the president's national security concerns, Mayor Lu emphasized that economic improvements should take precedence over political positioning. "Practical economic policies would provide tangible benefits to both industries and ordinary citizens who are struggling with rising costs," she noted, reflecting growing public anxiety about Taiwan's economic outlook amid regional tensions.
The economic focus of Mayor Lu's comments came against the backdrop of environmental activism from her political allies. The previous day, Taichung's six legislators from the Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨), Taiwan's main opposition party, had assembled to advocate for reduced coal dependence in Taiwan's energy mix. The group included Legislative Yuan (立法院, Taiwan's parliament) Deputy Speaker Johnny Chiang (江啟臣), a prominent KMT figure from the region. Mayor Lu publicly thanked these lawmakers for amplifying environmental concerns that have long preoccupied Taichung residents, particularly regarding air quality issues linked to coal-fired power generation.
The mayor further acknowledged the broader advocacy work of these KMT legislators, particularly their efforts to secure infrastructure projects and budget allocations for Taiwan's industrial heartland. Mayor Lu emphasized the importance of this parliamentary support in strengthening her position when negotiating with the central government, which is controlled by the rival Democratic Progressive Party. "Their persistent advocacy in the Legislative Yuan and across different governmental forums ensures that Taichung's interests receive proper attention," she remarked, adding that this collaborative approach ultimately benefits the city's residents whose continued support she values. ◼
