Frank Hsieh and Li Yang Lose! The Most Talked-About Official in Lai's Cabinet is 'Him': With Rich Political Experience, Every Move Draws Nationwide Attention

Public attention toward Taiwan's cabinet officials often spikes during major policy debates or tense international situations, where a single statement from an official can ignite nationwide discussions and trigger waves of online commentary.

According to the 'Net Temperature DailyView' public sentiment ranking for the 'Cho Cabinet' over the past month (analysis period: June 21, 2026 – July 20, 2026), Premier Cho Jung-tai secured first place with an astonishing 584,237 mentions, far outpacing other cabinet members and reflecting his high visibility as a core government figure.

From the Mainland Affairs Council to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, from defense to culture, which officials are capturing the most attention from netizens across Taiwan? Let’s unveil the top 10 list.

Top 10 Most Popular Cabinet Officials in the Lai Administration

| Rank | Name | Online Mentions | |---|---|---| | 1 | Cho Jung-tai | 584,237 | | 2 | Liang Wen-chieh | 227,039 | | 3 | Shi Jong-giaw | 127,935 | | 4 | Li Yang | 102,815 | | 5 | Koo Li-hsiung | 73,185 | | 6 | Lin Ching-i | 53,036 | | 7 | Cheng Ying-yao | 32,145 | | 8 | Frank Hsieh | 28,021 | | 9 | Lee Yuan | 24,370 | | 10 | Chen Shih-kai | 17,001 |

This ranking is based on data analyzed by the 'KEYPO Big Data Key Engine'舆情 analysis software, covering online public sentiment across various platforms in Taiwan from June 21 to July 20, 2026, including news, forums, and social media.

Third Place: Shi Jong-giaw

Minister of Health and Welfare Shi Jong-giaw. (Photo credit: Yan Lin-yu)

Shi Jong-giaw previously served for many years as Director-General of the Department of Medical Affairs at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, possessing deep expertise in healthcare administration. Since becoming Minister, he has been primarily responsible for advancing major issues such as national health insurance reform, healthcare workforce policies, and public health, making him a central decision-maker in Taiwan's healthcare policy.

In this ranking, Shi achieved 127,935 online mentions, securing third place, with a positive influence PR score of 55. The keyword 'Ginger Chiang' appeared prominently in the ranking. It is understood that recent discussions about the Zhonglian carcinogenic oil incident have sparked public debate over the Ministry's regulatory responsibilities, further boosting Shi's online visibility.

Notably, Shi's positive influence score was only 2.29—relatively low among the top three. Some netizens have criticized the pace of his major healthcare policy initiatives and his external communication style, suggesting room for improvement in his response strategies under public pressure.

Second Place: Liang Wen-chieh

Liang Wen-chieh. (Photo credit: Yang Teng-kai)

Liang Wen-chieh has long served as a key spokesperson for the DPP's cross-strait narrative, known for his bold and articulate commentary. Amid rising cross-strait tensions, he frequently appears in media coverage, acting as a crucial mouthpiece for Taiwan's China policy.

In this ranking, Liang secured second place with 227,039 mentions, demonstrating strong momentum. His positive influence PR score was 75, indicating high topicality. The keyword 'attitude' became the core topic associated with Liang, significantly driving up his visibility and sparking widespread discussion and sharing across social platforms.

While Liang excels at attracting media attention with sharp language, he has also drawn criticism. Some argue his communication style is overly aggressive, potentially escalating cross-strait tensions and questioning its effectiveness in substantive policy dialogue. Others believe the role of a Mainland Affairs Council spokesperson should prioritize stabilizing cross-strait relations rather than frequently generating舆论 topics with provocative statements.

First Place: Cho Jung-tai

Premier Cho Jung-tai. (Photo credit: Liu Wei-hung)

Born in 1952, Cho Jung-tai has served as DPP Chairperson, Taipei City Councilor, and multiple-term legislator, giving him a comprehensive political background. After Lai Qing-de assumed the presidency in 2024, Cho was appointed Premier, becoming the central executor of the Lai administration’s policies and leading a full cabinet team, including heads of all ministries.

In terms of policy leadership, Cho has spearheaded numerous major initiatives, including economic revitalization, social welfare reform, and defense budget allocation. Any policy shift under his leadership captures the attention of Taiwan’s media and netizens. Combined with the institutional visibility of the premiership, his public profile dominates the entire cabinet.

Cho topped the ranking with 584,237 online mentions—nearly 2.5 times that of second-place Liang—demonstrating his exceptionally high visibility as the nation’s top administrative leader. The most frequent keyword was 'resign,' indicating a surge in online criticism of his performance and growing calls for his resignation. This highlights that high visibility does not necessarily equate to high approval—while Cho’s exposure is immense, so too is the controversy surrounding him.

Positive online feedback toward Premier Cho centers on his ability to stabilize the administrative system and his composed responses under pressure from the Legislative Yuan. Negative sentiment, however, focuses on质疑 over policy direction, criticism of slow responses to major decisions, and the accumulated public dissatisfaction reflected in the 'resign' keyword.

Top 10 Most Popular Cabinet Officials in the Lai Administration

(Image: Storm Media)

Source: 'Public Sentiment Ranking of the Lai Administration’s Cho Cabinet'