TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Kuomintang announced Tuesday that party Chair Eric Chu (朱立倫) will not attend the national security briefing scheduled for Wednesday, citing concerns over the meeting’s format and limited scope.
The KMT’s decision follows that of Taiwan People’s Party Chair Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌), who previously declined the invitation, citing insufficient communication from the Office of the President and concerns over the meeting’s legality.
According to the KMT, its primary objection lies in the briefing being held entirely behind closed doors and limited to national security topics. The party argued that meaningful dialogue requires transparency and a broader agenda that includes issues such as the economy, industry, energy, technology, and social stability, per CNA.
The KMT said it held internal discussions after receiving the presidential invitation on June 12 and sought to expand the meeting’s agenda. On Tuesday morning, KMT Secretary-General Huang Chien-ting (黃健庭) reportedly contacted Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an (潘孟安) to request that party leaders be allowed to make public remarks before the briefing.
However, the Presidential Office maintained its position on a fully closed-door format. As a result, the KMT decided not to participate.
Chu said that while the party supports dialogue, it believes discussions should not be limited to national security. He expressed hope that the party and the Presidential Office can develop a more acceptable framework for future cross-party engagement.
