TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wang Yi-chuan (王義川) is under fire for remarks perceived as sexist after he commented on Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen’s (盧秀燕) appearance during her visit to disaster-affected areas.
On Monday, Wang criticized Lu for not showing the same level of engagement as DPP Secretary-General Ho Po-wen (何博文), who was photographed clearing drainage ditches, per NOWmedia. During a discussion with political commentator Lee Cheng-hao (李正皓), Wang referenced Lu’s makeup, noting the NT$2,400 (US$80) price tag of one of her cosmetic products.
New Power Party Chair Wang Wan-yu (王婉諭) responded on Wednesday, criticizing Wang Yi-chuan for using Lu’s makeup to attack her politically, per UDN. She said the incident reflects how female politicians in Taiwan are often judged — based on appearance rather than policy positions or public service.
Kuomintang Legislator Lee Yen-hsiu (李彥秀) also criticized Wang. She called the remarks chauvinistic and urged the DPP to address them directly, per ETtoday.
Mirror Media anchor Liao Fang-jie (廖芳潔) said Lu's use of cosmetics was natural, given that cameras would be trained on her, per NOWnews. She added that NT$2,400 is not an excessive price for such products and criticized Wang for not understanding the typical price range.
DPP Legislative Caucus Secretary-General Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤) also weighed in, saying that criticism should center on whether Mayor Lu was providing tangible support to Taichung residents, per CTS. Wu noted that Lu had already departed on a trip to Australia rather than continuing to assist with flood recovery efforts in her city.
The DPP’s Department of Gender Equality condemned Wang Yi-chuan’s remarks, calling on party members to focus their criticism on political issues rather than using language that could be seen as sexist, per NOWnews. It also urged the KMT and TPP to address gender equality issues within their own ranks before criticizing the DPP.
