TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Former KMT Culture and Communications Committee Chair and party Spokesperson Yin Nai-ching (尹乃菁) said Sunday that a lack of authorization from KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) was a major reason for her departure from the party post.
Yin said she informed Cheng in May of her intention to step down, per CNA. The party announced on June 22 that former KMT Legislator Chen I-hsin (陳以信) would take over as committee chair and spokesperson, saying Yin had retired because of career plans.
Speaking in an interview, Yin said that while her health had declined during her tenure, a more significant reason for her departure was her belief that the mutual trust between her and Cheng had eroded, per UDN. She said the committee chair's primary responsibility is to serve as the party chair's spokesperson, making sufficient authorization from Cheng essential to the role.
Asked whether her relationship with Cheng remained as close as it had been, Yin said they were still friends but likened their relationship to neighbors living far apart. Yin did not accompany Cheng on her June visit to the US, a departure from past practice for the committee chair, per Newtalk.
When selecting Yin's successor, Cheng reportedly declined to appoint a lawmaker or local councilor to the position, per Liberty Times. Combined with Chen's recent public defense of Cheng, the decision fueled speculation that Cheng had wanted Chen to take the role.
The reported preference for Chen also reportedly frustrated some councilors who had sought the appointment but were ultimately passed over.
During the interview, Yin also criticized what she described as the KMT's bureaucratic style of operation, per UP Media. She said that despite having been out of power for a decade and operating with limited staff, the party remained inefficient and slow-moving.
