TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — United Microelectronics Corporation founder Robert Tsao (曹興誠) responded Wednesday to singer-songwriter Lo Ta-yu’s (羅大佑) criticism of the ongoing legislative recall campaign.

Lo, in an interview Tuesday, argued the recall drive is an attempt to seize control of the legislature after the DPP lost its majority in the 2024 general election, per UP Media. Tsao, who described himself as a longtime fan of Lo, said he respects the artist’s opinion but felt compelled to explain the motivations behind the campaign, per NOW News.

Tsao rejected the notion that the DPP is trying to overturn election results, noting that the party received more total votes but secured fewer legislative seats. He emphasized that the recall efforts are driven by local volunteers rather than party leaders or elites.

Citing meetings between KMT legislators and high-ranking Chinese officials, Tsao argued that such conduct, combined with procedural disruptions in the Legislative Yuan, have eroded public trust in the KMT. He further claimed that KMT lawmakers focus more on obstruction than governance, singling out Legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin (徐巧芯) as an example.

DPP Caucus Leader Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) had proposed the idea of recalling 41 KMT lawmakers before Tsao launched his pro-recall groups. At the time, the KMT was still debating whether to respond with its own recall campaigns.

Lo is not the only cultural figure voicing concern. Prominent musician Yang Hsien (楊弦) also opposed the campaign, warning that giving the DPP control over both the executive and legislative branches could leave the government without sufficient checks and balances, per UDN. He cited the lack of oversight during former President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) administration when the DPP held full control.

Yang expressed his view by composing a protest song titled, "The Ridiculous 1/4” (荒謬的 1/4), referencing the legal threshold for recall votes: support must surpass 25% of the electorate and outnumber votes against.

Despite the concerns raised by Lo and Yang, much of Taiwan’s cultural sector has shown support for the recall movement, particularly following remarks by KMT Legislator Chen Yu-jen (陳玉珍), who accused the creative industry of being overly reliant on government funding, per Tai Sounds.