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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Elections & Politics

Taiwanese Lawmakers Clash Over Vaccines, Drones, and Corruption

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Taiwanese lawmakers Lai Jui-lung and Ko Chih-en clashed over issues including BNT vaccine procurement, drone industry budgets, and alleged corruption involving local politicians.
  • Ko criticized the government's vaccine procurement as incompetent and causing loss of life, while Lai accused Ko of deflecting blame and inciting division.
  • The two also debated drone industry funding and local corruption scandals, trading accusations of lacking execution and harboring ulterior motives.

Two prominent Taiwanese lawmakers, Lai Jui-lung of the Democratic Progressive Party and Ko Chih-en of the Kuomintang, engaged in a public spat at the Dashan Mountain Longan Honey Festival, highlighting deep political divisions.

still angry and ashamed

— Lai Jui-lungLai Jui-lung's response to Ko Chih-en's criticism regarding the BNT vaccine issue.

Their conflict centered on several key issues. Regarding the BNT vaccine procurement, Ko Chih-en accused the government of incompetence, stating it failed to secure sufficient vaccines in a timely manner, leading to preventable deaths. She questioned why Lai was demanding an apology from her instead of condemning the government's inefficiency. Lai retorted, calling Ko's stance "angry and ashamed," accusing her of evasion and distortion. He urged Ko to apologize to the public for her alleged mistakes and to avoid further division and hatred.

only the Communist Party opposes

— Lai Jui-lungLai Jui-lung's statement on opposition to the drone industry development.

The dispute extended to the drone industry budget. Lai Jui-lung asserted that only the Communist Party opposes the government's drone development initiatives, which he claims have strong support from industry players and the administration. He criticized the KMT and Ko for attempting to slash budgets worth tens or even hundreds of billions of New Taiwan dollars, including existing procurement projects. Ko countered that the KMT's proposed budget actually offered more than the administration's version, aiming to promote national defense autonomy and local development. She questioned Lai's execution capabilities, dismissing his support as mere talk.

besides blowing hot air, what execution ability do you have?

— Ko Chih-enKo Chih-en questioning Lai Jui-lung's effectiveness regarding the drone industry budget.

Furthermore, Ko Chih-en raised concerns about recent controversies involving DPP local councilors, citing alleged corruption cases. She suggested a potential link between these scandals and Lai's potential return to local politics, hinting at corrupt forces and factional interests. Lai responded by stating his clear stance against any illegal activities, emphasizing respect for judicial processes and urging thorough investigations and severe penalties for those suspected of wrongdoing.

respect the judiciary, do not wrongly convict or wrongly acquit

— Lai Jui-lungLai Jui-lung's stance on the alleged corruption cases involving local politicians.
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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