Ballots on whether to recall up to 31 Kuomintang lawmakers will take place starting July 26, catalyzing a wave of protest against what supporters of progressive President Lai Ching-te see as obstruction by the KMT as it campaigns for closer ties with China. (Illustration by Yoshiko Kawano)

Taiwan's hot political summer: KMT lawmakers face wave of recall votes

Campaigners aiming to oust opposition incumbents say effort is 'last line of defense'

THOMPSON CHAU

July 18, 2025 06:00 JST

TAICHUNG, Taiwan -- When veteran Kuomintang (KMT) lawmaker Fu Kun-chi boarded a plane bound for China with a delegation from his party a little over a year ago, the opposition coalition in Taiwan led by the KMT was riding high.

The party, which campaigns for closer ties with Beijing, had narrowly taken control of the legislature in January 2024 elections, in partnership with the smaller Taiwan People's Party (TPP). Although it had at the same time lost the presidential election to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Lai Ching-te, the KMT was back after eight years in the political wilderness.