Sat Jul 26 09:40:00 UTC 2025: **Taiwan Accuses China of Meddling in Upcoming Recall Votes**
Taipei, Taiwan – As Taiwan prepares for a series of recall votes targeting several legislators, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has accused Beijing of blatant interference in the democratic process. In a statement released Wednesday, the MAC asserted that the Chinese government and its state-controlled media are attempting to sway the outcome of the recall votes, which are set to take place starting July 26.
The recall efforts, initiated by civic groups, target 24 legislators from the Kuomintang (KMT), Taiwan’s largest opposition party, as well as the suspended Mayor of Hsinchu City, Kao Hung-an. The groups accuse these individuals of being too accommodating towards Beijing, which views Taiwan as a renegade province awaiting reunification.
The MAC alleges that the Chinese Communist Party’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) and state media have launched a massive campaign, disseminating hundreds of videos and articles through platforms like Weibo, Douyin (TikTok), and WeChat. These materials are then amplified by Taiwanese media outlets, creating a multi-layered propaganda effort, according to the MAC.
“The intention is obvious, and the naked and open interference is undisguised,” the MAC stated, adding that this level of meddling is unprecedented. The council emphasized that recall elections are a fundamental right in a democracy and that Taiwan’s citizens should be free to decide the outcome without external pressure. It urged Beijing to refrain from interfering in Taiwan’s democratic processes and to consider whether it grants its own citizens similar freedoms of expression.
The accusation comes as tensions between Taiwan and China remain high. The KMT and smaller Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) hold a majority of the seats in the Legislative Yuan, the island’s legislative body, and have frequently clashed with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) since January elections that installed Lai Ching-te as President.
China’s TAO has yet to respond directly to the MAC’s accusations, but previously criticized the recall votes as a DPP-led effort to suppress opposition parties. In June, a TAO spokesperson accused the DPP of abusing democratic principles to consolidate power and crack down on political opponents.
The DPP supports the recall efforts, framing them as a response to pro-China elements within Taiwan. President Lai Ching-te has stated that the recall votes are a matter of national security.
The KMT, meanwhile, denounces the recalls as a “disgrace to democracy,” arguing that a ruling party should not target opposition members in this way. The TPP, which has several at-large legislators who cannot be recalled, has largely sided with the KMT in opposing the recall efforts.
The first wave of recall votes is scheduled for July 26, with a second wave targeting seven additional legislators set for August 23. The outcome of these votes could significantly alter the balance of power in the Legislative Yuan, potentially allowing the DPP to regain control of the legislative agenda.
First Piper 