Recall campaign targets 26 KMT legislators as Fu Kun-chi faces intensified effort in Hualien

TAIWAN: Civil society groups in Taiwan announced yesterday that they have surpassed the required threshold of signatures to initiate recall votes against 18 Kuomintang (KMT) legislators across the nation. The groups plan to submit the first-stage signatures to the Central Election Commission (CEC) today, with hopes of extending the effort to eight additional constituencies in the coming days, potentially targeting 26 legislators in total. The recall effort primarily targets key KMT lawmakers, including Fu Kun-chi of Hualien County, KMT caucus deputy secretary-general Wang Hung-wei, Lee Yen-hsiu of Taipei, Yeh Yuan-chih of New Taipei City, Yen Kuan-heng of Taichung, and Cheng Cheng-chien of Hsinchu City. In Hualien, “Shimmer Hualien” has led the campaign against Fu Kun-chi, gathering over 7,000 signatures—well beyond the 1,938 needed to pass the first stage, according to a Shimmer Hualien representative.

Fu, a controversial figure often referred to as the “King of Hualien,” has long been accused of fostering close ties with China and undermining Taiwan’s political and economic sovereignty. His critics allege that his infrastructure projects and business dealings have allowed the infiltration of Chinese capital into local development projects, furthering dependence on Beijing. The recall process in Taiwan consists of two stages under the Public Officials Election and Recall Act. The first stage requires 1 percent of the voters in the legislator’s district to sign a petition within a given timeframe. If this is achieved, the second stage requires the collection of signatures from at least 10 percent of voters within 60 days. Shimmer Hualien described the second stage as a significant hurdle but urged local residents to continue supporting the cause. In social media posts, the group accused Fu of disregarding public sentiment by fostering political instability, requesting personal police escorts, and aligning with Beijing’s interests. Fu’s critics have accused him of selling Hualien out to Chinese investors through questionable land deals and infrastructure projects. A high-profile example is the controversial Freeway No. 6 east extension, a project promoted by Fu to improve transportation links in eastern Taiwan but seen by some as a potential backdoor for Chinese state-owned companies to gain influence in the region. Fu’s infrastructure projects, including road construction and the proposed expansion of Taiwan’s high-speed rail to the east coast, are estimated to cost over NT$2 trillion (US$61.8 billion)—nearly 10 percent of Taiwan’s 2023 GDP. Critics claim the projects are excessive and poorly planned, designed primarily to benefit Chinese firms through Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) agreements. These concerns have been amplified by reports of the Fu family profiting from land deals involving Chinese companies. The recall campaign in Hualien has gained widespread local support, with Shimmer Hualien reporting a surge in petition signings during the Lunar New Year holiday. Volunteers stationed at train stations and local markets collected signatures from returning residents eager to participate in the recall effort. Meanwhile, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) officials have sought to distance the party from the recall campaigns, with President William Lai describing the movements as grassroots efforts driven by civil society. “We respect their autonomy and will listen to the public with humility,” said a DPP official, adding that the party does not wish for the effort to be viewed as politically motivated. Fu’s influence in Hualien extends beyond his legislative role. His wife, Hsu Chen-wei, serves as Hualien’s county magistrate, and the couple has maintained strong control over local government positions. Fu’s popularity stems in part from his past projects, including transportation initiatives that have boosted the local economy. However, critics argue that these projects, particularly those involving Chinese capital, have led to economic dependency and undermined Taiwan’s national security. Hualien is a strategically important location in Taiwan, home to the Jiashan Air Force Base and Hualien Port, which serve as key military assets. The presence of Chinese investment in the region has raised concerns about Beijing gaining influence in a militarily sensitive area, potentially compromising Taiwan’s alliances with the United States and Japan. Despite these concerns, Fu has continued to push for cross-strait economic cooperation, calling for changes to Taiwan’s Anti-Infiltration Act and other laws perceived as obstacles to improved ties with China. His recent trip to China in April further fueled speculation about his role in promoting Beijing’s interests in Taiwan. With the recall effort entering its next phase, the spotlight remains on whether Shimmer Hualien and other civil society groups can sustain their momentum to achieve the second-stage threshold. If successful, Fu Kun-chi could face one of the most significant political challenges of his career, as voters in Hualien reconsider his role in the region’s future.