TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — KMT Chair Eric Chu (朱立倫) announced on Wednesday that his party will launch “Operation Patriot” to respond to recall elections backed by the DPP.
Chu outlined a three-stage strategy aimed at defending KMT legislators facing recall, per Storm Media. He said the first stage will involve establishing localized strategies in each jurisdiction, led by mayors and magistrates.
The second phase will focus on regional mobilization. The KMT central office will organize a team of speakers, including Legislative Yuan Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) and KMT media figure Jaw Shaw-kang (趙少康), to provide regional support or cross-district reinforcement.
The final phase will feature a major rally, held the night before or several days ahead of the recall vote.
Chu also criticized President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), accusing him of pursuing what Chu called an “anti-democratic” goal through recalls. He argued that the KMT must hold onto its legislative seats in the face of these challenges.
On Thursday, KMT mayors expressed general support for Chu’s plan. Taoyuan Mayor Simon Chang (張善政) said he would remain administratively neutral but would showcase the work of the six KMT legislators facing recall, per UDN.
New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) said the KMT should avoid excessive political confrontation in Operation Patriot, per Tai Sounds. He called on voters to retain the KMT legislators, whom he described as diligent.
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said he has already arranged a meeting with Chu and will stand with the five legislators facing recall in his city, per UDN.
In response to the KMT’s campaign, the DPP accused the party of political manipulation and questioned its stance toward China. DPP Spokesperson Justin Wu (吳崢) called on the KMT to clarify “which country” they are professing love for when they describe themselves as patriots, per ETtoday.
Wu accused the KMT of leaning toward the CCP, referencing former President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) recent trip to China and alleging that he met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The claim was denied by Hsiao Hsu-tsen (蕭旭岑), director of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, on Wednesday, per Storm Media.
Wu also contrasted the KMT’s pro-CCP stance with the DPP’s anti-CCP position. He described the DPP-backed recall campaign as a deepening of Taiwan’s democratic process. DPP Legislator Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤) echoed this framing, arguing that KMT politicians’ visits to China are a compelling reason for voters to support the recalls, per ETtoday.
Wu Szu-yao also claimed that Chu’s strategy is intended to prevent himself and his party from being marginalized. She said the campaign is a way for the KMT to externalize its internal struggles.
DPP Legislator Lin Chun-hsien (林俊憲) went further, suggesting that Operation Patriot is a political tactic for Chu to assign blame to other KMT figures should the effort to resist the recalls fail, per UDN.
