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Lu Shiow-yen's protest call met with silence in Taichung; insider info suspected

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen's participation in a Taipei protest against alleged toxic oil has drawn criticism for a muted local response from her party.
  • Political commentator Chou Hsuan suggests the lack of mobilization in Taichung indicates deeper local issues and potential political maneuvering.
  • Critics accuse Lu of benefiting from the scandal while failing to adequately inspect products in her city.

A planned protest in Taipei against alleged toxic oil has highlighted a perceived lack of local support from Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen's political base.

The KMT Taichung headquarters, the KMT Taichung City Council caucus, and the TPP Taichung headquarters are all encouraging participation in the 725 march, but not mobilizing.

— Chou HsuanDescribing the level of party involvement in the upcoming protest.

While Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an has called for public participation in the July 25th demonstration, and Lu has stated she will attend, the KMT's Taichung city council caucus and party headquarters have reportedly only encouraged attendance rather than actively mobilizing members.

Political commentator Chou Hsuan noted the subdued reaction in Taichung, suggesting it reflects "more inside information" known to locals. He contrasted the "loud" calls from the KMT and TPP with what he described as a "timid" response from Lu's "home base" in Taichung, especially with her mayoral term having only four months remaining.

The blue and white parties are shouting loudly, but Lu Shiow-yen's own 'home base' in Taichung is acting timidly. After all, Lu Shiow-yen only has 4 months left in her term as Taichung mayor, and no one knows where Chiang Wan-an will be on July 25th.

— Chou HsuanAnalyzing the political response in Taichung.

Chou's analysis implies that local party members may be hesitant to get involved, possibly due to awareness of underlying issues or political calculations. Comments from legislator Lin Chu-yin on Chou's post suggested that some advisors warned Chiang against a "borrowed knife to kill Lu" strategy, implying a potential political ploy.

The local reaction is not difficult to understand. 'Lu Shiow-yen has no job, we can't lose our jobs along with her.' The muted reaction in Taichung to some extent reflects that 'locals must know more inside information than we outsiders.'

— Chou HsuanInterpreting the lack of local mobilization for the protest.

Online reactions also voiced skepticism, with some netizens questioning the effectiveness of the protest and suggesting that local businesses might have "ways to silence" those seeking to expose problems, potentially under Lu's watch. Others directly blamed Lu for the scandal, stating that "everyone in the country knows that Mom Lu never inspects anything."

Wise advisors would remind him that Chiang is not listening to the 'borrowed knife to kill Lu' strategy. How can he let it succeed?

— Lin Chu-yinLegislator commenting on political strategy related to the protest.
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.

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