TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Former KMT Spokesperson Hsiao Ching-yan (蕭敬嚴) is facing mounting opposition to his New Taipei City Council bid amid backlash over past criticism of party lawmakers.
Hsiao has come under fire for attacking KMT legislators during the failed recall campaign against KMT lawmakers, per SETN. He was also previously suspended for three years for criticizing former KMT Chair Eric Chu (朱立倫), who had played a key role in his rise within the party, per Tai Sounds.
The suspension was later reduced to one year on appeal, allowing Hsiao to remain eligible for the 2026 local elections. However, his candidacy has drawn criticism from KMT lawmakers Yeh Yuan-chih (葉元之) and Hsu Chiao-hsin (徐巧芯), both of whom were targets of Hsiao’s earlier attacks.
Hsiao issued a public apology Sunday, saying his intention had been to improve the party but acknowledging that his rash approach and failure to verify claims caused unnecessary harm to fellow members.
Responding Monday, Hsu said Hsiao’s use of what she described as unsubstantiated claims on pro–DPP programs was neither constructive nor beneficial to the KMT, per Newtalk. She added that as a city council candidate, Hsiao should be held to a higher standard.
Yeh reiterated his criticism Tuesday, saying Hsiao’s attacks echoed the messaging used in the recall campaign against him, per China Times. He argued that Hsiao’s image as “the KMT’s conscience” suggested he was aligning with the DPP rather than offering internal criticism.
Former KMT official Ting Yu (丁瑀) defended Hsiao, instead criticizing KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) and urging party members to focus on policy rather than infighting, per NOWNews.
Former vice presidential candidate Jaw Shaw-kong (趙少康) also weighed in, saying it took courage for Hsiao to appear on pro-DPP programs, per Liberty Times. He suggested the dispute be resolved through the party’s primary process.
Party headquarters has reportedly received a wave of complaints about Hsiao’s candidacy, with critics citing his prior suspension, per Storm Media. A KMT insider said that despite the backlash, some senior party figures have stepped in to support him.
The insider added that Cheng has taken note of the controversy and indicated that since Hsiao’s suspension has already been addressed, voters should ultimately decide whether he is fit to serve as a city councilor.
