TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — KMT Chair Eric Chu (朱立倫) drew criticism from an alliance of political parties and NGOs on Monday for comparing President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) treatment of opposition groups to Adolf Hitler’s actions during the Nazi regime.
Representatives of the New Power Party, Taiwan Statebuilding Party, Taiwan Green Party, and Taiwan Obasan Political Equality Party held a press conference outside KMT headquarters condemning the analogy. They called on Chu to apologize and retract his remarks, per CNA.
Chu responded by labeling the protesters as DPP followers and affiliated parties. “I hope they do well, and we will see if Lai Ching-te gives them some more work to do,” he said.
Chu’s Hitler comparison has drawn condemnation from multiple groups, including the German Institute Taipei, which expressed deep disappointment and concern. The institute said Taiwan’s democratic institutions bear no resemblance to Nazi rule, calling the comparison inaccurate and inappropriate.
After the German Institute’s statement was posted to Facebook, diplomatic offices of the European Union, France, and the Netherlands shared the post to express support. The Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei also voiced concern, stating it was “disappointed and concerned to learn about the inappropriate comparison between the atrocities of the Nazi regime and the current political context in Taiwan.”
NPP Chair Wang Wan-yu (王婉諭) said Chu has repeatedly invoked Nazi Germany to describe Taiwan’s political situation. However, when the KMT is criticized for its own authoritarian past, she said, party members push back forcefully.
Wang said comparing Taiwan’s democratic politics to Nazi rule downplays the crimes against humanity committed by the Nazi regime. She urged the KMT to issue a formal apology to both the international community and the Taiwanese people.
Taiwan Statebuilding Party Chair Wang Hsing-huan (王興煥) accused the KMT of exhibiting Nazi-like behavior and said the global taboo around Nazi comparisons stems from the party’s suppression of political diversity.
In response to the protest, the KMT set up a loudspeaker outside its headquarters, playing songs such as “I Am a Little Bird” and others. It also displayed a photo of Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) previously comparing former Premier Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) to Hitler.
