TAIPEI (TVBS News) — KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) sharply rebuked Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) Tuesday (July 15) after Taiwan's cabinet head denounced the opposition party's proposed NT$10,000 (approximately US$341) cash handout policy as "unconstitutional." Chu voiced profound disappointment with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨). He accused the governing party of habitually opposing initiatives regardless of merit, thereby impeding Taiwan's policy innovation and economic progress.
The KMT chairman outlined mounting global economic headwinds, pointing specifically to inflationary pressures and American tariff policies that are fundamentally altering supply chains worldwide. These developments, Chu warned, present substantial threats to Taiwan's heavily export-reliant economy. He defended the cash distribution proposal as an effective mechanism to boost consumer spending and provide critical support to small and medium-sized businesses, noting the approach aligns with international economic strategies and builds upon Taiwan's previous experiences with similar stimulus measures.
The opposition leader sharply rebuked the DPP's primary objection to the cash distribution plan, which suggests the policy is unfair because not all citizens pay direct taxes. Chu dismissed this logic as "nonsensical," emphasizing that national tax revenue derives from everyday consumer activities affecting all residents. He questioned whether Premier Cho truly comprehends the meaningful impact that NT$10,000 (about US$341) would have for ordinary Taiwanese families, underscoring the proposal's potential to reinvigorate domestic supply chains during economic uncertainty.
Chu concluded his remarks with a broader call for political transformation, linking an ongoing recall effort to what he characterized as the DPP's partisan approach to governance. The KMT chairman urged voters to reject the recall initiative. Citizens should vote "no" in the upcoming July 26 referendum, he stated, framing the decision as a stand against what he portrayed as the ruling party's tendency to place partisan advantage above genuine national interests. ◼
(At time of reporting, US$1 equals approximately NT$29.339)
