Behind the Scenes: Jaws Drop as Chiang Wan-an Calls for Vote of No Confidence, But One KMT Powerbroker Resists

Kuomintang (KMT) Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an called for a street demonstration on July 25 to protest the DPP government's failure to contain the circulation of toxic cooking oil and its tendency to shift blame onto local governments. The appeal received full support from across the KMT, with the party central committee fully mobilizing supporters. Reports even emerged that KMT Chairperson Cheng Li-chen liquidated millions in personal fixed deposits to fund the event. Ultimately, KMT supporters dressed in white filled Ketagalan Boulevard. Political commentator Lee Cheng-hao warned that if Lai Qing-te and the DPP continue responding to opposition pressure with a 'gentle, respectful, frugal, and humble' attitude—without taking proactive measures or establishing a risk management task force—the pan-Green camp could face a crisis.

Following the success of the July 25 rally, Chiang Wan-an sought to maintain momentum on food safety by calling for a vote of no confidence in the executive branch. Initially, many KMT legislators supported the proposal, largely because they wished to avoid running for re-election alongside party chair Cheng Li-chen, calculating that pairing with a popular incumbent local leader would offer better electoral prospects. However, as the political situation evolved, while significant support for the no-confidence motion remains within the KMT caucus, the initiative has gradually become a 'symbolic issue.' The main reason is that one influential KMT power player does not back the move, effectively stalling any real progress despite surface-level enthusiasm.