{"id":2467880,"date":"2025-07-28T17:52:01","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T21:52:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/taiwans-progressives-reckon-with-utter-failure-of-great-recall-against-opposition-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-07-28T17:54:29","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T21:54:29","slug":"taiwans-progressives-reckon-with-utter-failure-of-great-recall-against-opposition-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/taiwans-progressives-reckon-with-utter-failure-of-great-recall-against-opposition-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Taiwans&#8217; progressives reckon with utter failure of &#8216;Great Recall&#8217; against opposition- Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftaiwans-progressives-reckon-with-utter-failure-of-great-recall-against-opposition-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2467880&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The &#8220;Great Recall&#8221; effort in Taiwan, aimed at ousting more than two dozen opposition Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers, ended in a significant defeat for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and its progressive supporters. All 24 targeted KMT members, including Hsinchu Mayor Kao Hung-an, survived the recall vote, preserving the opposition&#8217;s strength in the Legislative Yuan and frustrating the DPP&#8217;s hopes of gaining greater control. Experts noted that this outcome surprised many observers who anticipated some lawmakers would be recalled, potentially moderating the KMT. The KMT&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trumps-endorsement-may-expand-dixons-narrow-lead-in-michigan-gop-primary\/\" title=\"Trump\u2019s Endorsement May Expand Dixon\u2019s Narrow Lead in Michigan GOP Primary\">strong grassroots support<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-seeing-red-four-seats-bidens-party-hopes-to-flip-amid-retirement-boom\/\" title=\"Democrats eyeing key seats as retirements surge\">effective voter mobilization<\/a> were key factors in this success. The DPP faced criticism and internal consequences, including the resignation of its Secretary-General Lin Yu-chang. Simultaneously occurring,the KMT celebrated the result as a victory for Taiwanese democracy and political stability.china&#8217;s government criticized the recall attempt and reaffirmed its stance that Taiwan is part of China, dismissing the DPP&#8217;s claims of democracy and labeling the recall a failure. The KMT now prepares for a second round of recall votes and possible future by-elections, while vowing continued opposition to the DPP agenda.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Taiwans&rsquo; progressives reckon with utter failure of &lsquo;Great Recall&rsquo; against opposition<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2146058\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3482437\/taiwan-great-recall-election-targeting-opposition-lawmakers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Great Recall<\/a>&rdquo; of more than two dozen opposition lawmakers in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/taiwan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Taiwan<\/a> over the weekend greatly disappointed the president and his progressive supporters.<\/p>\n<p>All 24 members of the Kuomintang, or KMT, survived the coordinated challenge of their office on Saturday, smashing the ruling Democratic Progressive Party&rsquo;s hopes of taking control in the Legislative Yuan. Hsinchu Mayor Kao Hung-an, also a member of the KMT, survived her Saturday recall as well.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3484452\/trump-sadiq-khan-feud-blasts-nasty-london-mayor-in-front-of-keir-starmer\/\">Trump blasts &lsquo;nasty&rsquo; London mayor in front of Starmer: &lsquo;He&rsquo;s done a terrible job&rsquo;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3483818\/two-israeli-human-rights-groups-accuse-israel-genocide-gaza\/\">Two Israeli human rights groups accuse country of genocide in Gaza<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3483806\/trump-touts-thailand-cambodia-sixth-major-war-prevented\/\">Trump boasts Thailand-Cambodia as sixth &#8216;major war&#8217; he has prevented<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>David Sacks, a fellow for Asia Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that no one imagined the KMT voters would make such a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3483430\/voters-in-taiwan-reject-bid-to-oust-china-friendly-lawmakers-recall-vote\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">successful rebuke<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think that anybody can honestly say that they were expecting this result,&rdquo; Sacks told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;Most observers saw the movement as having real momentum and the assumption was that if they were able to collect all of these signatures, that they would be able to flip at least a few of these seats, or at least recall a few of the lawmakers and then the KMT would have had to nominate new people who may be more moderate.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Taiwan Opposition Nationalist Party chairman Eric Chu, center, and party staff bow to supporters at a press conference in Taipei, Taiwan, Saturday, July 26, 2025. (AP Photo\/Chiang Ying-ying)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The KMT has been on the defensive for almost a decade since it lost the presidency to the DPP in 2016. In recent years, it has teamed up with the small center-left Taiwan People&rsquo;s Party to block its progressive rivals&rsquo; agenda in the Yuan.<\/p>\n<p>It has long been believed that the KMT is losing ground in Taiwanese society due to its professed desire for a reunification with mainland China in a hypothetical <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3438465\/taiwan-political-parties-chinese-espionage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">post-communist<\/a> state, a far-flung prospect that does not resonate as deeply with younger generations who grew up without attachments to the continent.<\/p>\n<p>Whatever drove voters to back the conservatives against replacement has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/news\/china\/politics\/article\/3319867\/taiwans-opposition-parties-kmt-and-tpp-look-build-momentum-recall-votes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">reinvigorated the right wing<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I think the KMT demonstrated that it still has a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >pretty impressive ground game<\/a>, an impressive ability to mobilize its supporters and turn them out to vote,&rdquo; Sacks said. &ldquo;I think that what I anticipate from them is that with the momentum behind them, they&rsquo;re going to be just as, or even more, obstinate in the legislature in opposing President Lai [Ching-te]&rsquo;s agenda.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The outcome was so disappointing for the DPP that Secretary-General Lin Yu-chang tendered his resignation, accepting responsibility for the outcome despite previous DPP claims that the recall was a grassroots movement not spurred by the party.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;What we need least is to make excuses for the outcome, but instead to move forward,&rdquo; Lin <a href=\"https:\/\/focustaiwan.tw\/politics\/202507280007\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">said<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>KMT Chairman Eric Chu&nbsp;celebrated the outcome as a &ldquo;big victory for Taiwan&rsquo;s people&rdquo; and proof that Taiwanese democracy is &ldquo;mature and great.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People react as votes are counted after an election to determine whether to oust about one-fifth of their lawmakers, from the opposition Nationalist Party, in Taipei, Taiwan, Saturday, July 26, 2025. (AP Photo\/Chiang Ying-ying)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;Taiwan&rsquo;s people have chosen stability and believe that the government should focus on getting things done, not engaging in political infighting,&rdquo;&nbsp;Chu <a href=\"https:\/\/focustaiwan.tw\/politics\/202507260020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">said<\/a> during the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rudy-giuliani-masked-singer-reveal-creates-drama-as-judge-walks-off-stage\/\" title=\"Rudy Giuliani \u201cMasked Singer\u201d Reveal Creates Drama as Judge Walks off Stage\">post-election press conference<\/a> with fellow party leaders. &ldquo;No one should seek one-party dominance.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The Chinese Communist Party has been taking a victory lap after explicitly denouncing Lai&rsquo;s party ahead of the recall, having previously accused the president and the DPP of overseeing a &ldquo;fake democracy&rdquo; with &ldquo;real authoritarianism.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The mainland holds special malice for Lai, who, before being elected president, <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/lai-taiwan-president-china-democracy-a8327644417f4719c32fcd9753985a1d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">described himself<\/a> as a &ldquo;pragmatic worker for Taiwan independence.&rdquo; Since taking high office, he has made efforts to soften this position.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Today&rsquo;s outcome is neither a victory for one side nor a defeat for the other,&rdquo; Lai <a href=\"https:\/\/focustaiwan.tw\/politics\/202507260024\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">said on social media <\/a>following the results. &ldquo;Both supporting and opposing a recall are legitimate rights of the people guaranteed by the Constitution.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fmprc.gov.cn\/eng\/xw\/fyrbt\/lxjzh\/202507\/t20250728_11678340.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">spoke with the press<\/a> on Monday and rebuked both the failed recall and the concept of Taiwanese independence.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The results of the vote demonstrate that the DPP authorities&rsquo; political manipulation goes against the will of the people on the island and finds no support,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3483430\/voters-in-taiwan-reject-bid-to-oust-china-friendly-lawmakers-recall-vote\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">VOTERS IN TAIWAN REJECT BID TO OUST CHINA-FRIENDLY LAWMAKERS RECALL VOTE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>He added, &ldquo;Let me stress that there is but one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China&rsquo;s territory. The Taiwan question is China&rsquo;s internal affairs, which brooks no external interference.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The KMT faces a second and final round of recalls on Aug. 23, when seven more opposition lawmakers will be voted on.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lawmakers of the Taiwan Opposition Nationalist Party and party staff cheer after a press conference in Taipei, Taiwan, Saturday, July 26, 2025. (AP Photo\/Chiang Ying-ying)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Buoyed by the weekend&rsquo;s success, party leaders are confident their majority in the Yuan will survive but vow to take the threat seriously and roll out a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/outside-groups-leading-trump-gotv-game-may-be-a-good-thing\/\" title=\"Outside Groups Leading Trump GOTV Game May Be A Good Thing\">comprehensive ground game<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The legislature will face another round of possible shake-ups when by-elections are held later this year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2146058\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2146058\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Taiwan&#8217;s progressives face defeat as KMT lawmakers survive recall<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3468,"featured_media":2467881,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/AP25207426371668.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[59912,5894,11763,9105],"class_list":["post-2467880","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-great-recall","tag-politics","tag-progressives","tag-taiwan"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/AP25207426371668.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2467880","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3468"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2467880"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2467880\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2467884,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2467880\/revisions\/2467884"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2467881"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2467880"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2467880"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2467880"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}