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๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ผ Taiwan /Economy & Trade

Ko Chih-en visited cultural agencies, then cut their budgets; Huang Jie: Kaohsiung people will support you in the next life

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Legislator Huang Jie criticized KMT legislator Ko Chih-en for cutting budgets for cultural institutions after visiting them.
  • Huang accused Ko of being a "cultural killer" and questioned his support from Kaohsiung residents.
  • The incident highlights a political dispute over cultural funding and development in Taiwan.

Taiwanese legislator Huang Jie has strongly criticized her KMT counterpart, Ko Chih-en, for drastically cutting budgets for cultural institutions shortly after visiting them in Kaohsiung. Huang accused Ko of hypocrisy, stating that he visited the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TCCA) and Public Television Service (PTS) just last week, only to then significantly reduce their funding in the legislature.

"This kind of cultural killer wants support from Kaohsiung people? Maybe in the next life!" Huang declared in a social media post, accompanying it with a photo of the budget cut vote. She emphasized that cultural development is a long-term endeavor, not merely a photo opportunity or a tool for political propaganda. Huang asserted that Kaohsiung residents are aware of Ko's actions and his political maneuvering.

This kind of cultural killer wants support from Kaohsiung people? Maybe in the next life!

โ€” Huang JieLegislator Huang Jie's sharp criticism of Ko Chih-en's budget cuts.

Huang expressed her disappointment, noting that she was present during Ko's visits to the TCCA and PTS, where he observed their efforts in promoting culture. She found it disheartening that within a week, Ko had moved to slash their budgets. The legislator stressed that such actions undermine the hard work of these institutions and send a discouraging message to those dedicated to cultural advancement.

The dispute underscores a broader political tension surrounding cultural funding in Taiwan. Huang's remarks frame Ko's actions as detrimental to cultural growth and question his commitment to the region he purportedly seeks to represent. The incident has sparked debate about the priorities of political figures and the importance of sustained support for cultural initiatives.

Cultural development is not a one-off effort, nor is it a template for taking photos and engaging in political propaganda.

โ€” Huang JieHuang Jie's statement on the nature of cultural development and Ko's actions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.