No president or premier at Yimin Festival as temple chief says presidential office sent no message

The Yimin Festival remained lively in Hsinchu, but this year’s ceremony lacked the senior political attendance that had become customary.

Neither Taiwan’s president nor premier attended the event. The awards for the top entries in the traditional stone pig and stone goat competitions, normally presented by one of them, were instead handed out by Hsinchu County Magistrate Yang Wen-ke.

Lin Kuang-hua, chairman of Hsinpu Paochung Yimin Temple, publicly expressed his disappointment during his speech. He said the Presidential Office had not even sent a congratulatory message, adding that he did not know what the absence meant for a temple he regards as Taiwan’s first indigenous shrine honoring loyal defenders.

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The Presidential Office did not even send a congratulatory message.

Lin also recalled former President Tsai Ing-wen’s regular attendance at the festival from 2016 onward. He said Tsai attended the spring and autumn ceremonies throughout her eight-year presidency and identified herself as a Hakka woman. He contrasted that period with the damage caused by recent typhoons and floods, saying it had made people especially nostalgic for what he called eight years of peace and prosperity.

Ku Hsiu-fei, head of the Hakka Affairs Council, sought to reassure participants. She said Premier Cho Jung-tai valued the Yimin Festival and had specifically asked her to convey his greetings. Ku described the festival as history, culture and daily life, and thanked the 15 village alliances for preserving its traditions and values across generations.

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The central government places great importance on the Yimin Festival.