TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The DPP legislative caucus proposed Monday to repeal the recently passed Strong Generation Policy and Industry Development Promotion Act, citing TPP Legislator Wu Chun-cheng’s (吳春城) alleged conflict of interest.
DPP Legislator Kuo Yu-ching (郭昱晴) accused Wu of freezing the administrative budget of any department that refused to adopt the term “strong generation” (壯世代), which refers to age groups above 55, during the Legislative Yuan’s audit for the 2025 budget. Kuo claimed that Wu’s proposed NT$205 million (US$6.62 million) budget freeze was motivated by a conflict of interest.
Kuo further questioned whether Wu’s family business, which won government contracts totaling NT$22 million during his tenure and trademarking of the term "strong generation" represented impropriety, per CNA. DPP Spokesperson Wu Cheng (吳崢) called on TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) to stop defending what he described as self-enriching legislation.
In response to similar accusations, Wu Chun-cheng clarified on Feb. 11 that all contracts his family business won during his tenure were extensions of existing agreements, per CNA. He called on Jet-Go Consulting Group, which he founded, and the Strong Generation Association, which he chaired until the law's passage on Jan. 7, to stop accepting government contracts while he serves as a legislator.
Wu also questioned the DPP’s push to repeal the law, noting the involvement of DPP Legislator Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤) and the Cabinet in its creation. He pointed out the final version of the bill was the "Cabinet version" and urged the DPP to direct their anger at him, not the law itself.
Wu surrendered the trademarks for “Strong Generation” on Feb. 9, explaining he had trademarked the term four years ago to prevent potential misuse as he promoted the policy, per Storm Media.
Huang responded to the controversy on Wednesday, claiming that while the attacks are directed at Wu, the DPP's real target is the TPP, per Storm Media. He noted that Jet-Go Consulting Group has worked with the KMT and DPP in the past, suggesting that the timing of the attacks was more politically motivated than based on substance.
Huang also emphasized that Wu could have profited from the public relations industry but chose to promote the Strong Generation policy, which is one reason former TPP Chair Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) selected him for one of the party's legislator-at-large seats. He highlighted that the Strong Generation Policy and Industry Development Promotion Act had been passed through caucus negotiations, making it illogical for the DPP to oppose it now.
The Control Yuan Committee on Anti-Corruption announced Wednesday that it would investigate Wu for potential conflicts of interest related to the controversy, per CNA. On Feb. 7, the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office said it would examine allegations of misuse of power and conflicts of interest, per UDN.
