Taiwan’s Global Credibility at Stake, President Lai Urges Withdrawal of Controversial Laws

Taiwanese President William Lai (賴清德) warned that the island’s international credibility is at risk if a series of recently passed laws are not withdrawn, calling on the legislature to reconsider measures his administration opposes. In a video message posted on social media, Lai emphasized that he is willing to personally address lawmakers to resolve the standoff.
“Dear fellow citizens, Taiwan is already a key hub of the global democratic camp. Our stability affects the entire world. We cannot allow flawed laws to weaken Taiwan’s competitiveness, and we must not let the international community lose confidence in Taiwan,” Lai said. The dispute centers on opposition-passed amendments last month to a revenue allocation law, which increased funds for local governments. Lai’s administration has criticized the measure, along with the rollback of pension reforms introduced in 2018, as fiscally unsustainable.
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) confirmed yesterday that he would refuse to enact the fiscal allocation law. In response, opposition lawmakers accused the government of acting dictatorially by ignoring the legislature’s decisions and undermining the rule of law.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) spokesperson Niu Hsu-ting (牛煦庭) criticized the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, arguing that it has already suffered electoral setbacks this year, citing unsuccessful recall efforts against KMT legislators over the summer. “When ordinary citizens thought the ruling party might finally heed public sentiment, what they got instead was more of the same low-level tactics: spreading rumors, making baseless accusations, and resorting to emotional blackmail and divisive tactics,” Niu said.
The KMT has so far refrained from initiating a vote of no confidence against Premier Cho, an action that could potentially topple the government and trigger new legislative elections. The political deadlock highlights growing tensions between Taiwan’s executive and legislative branches, with implications for both domestic governance and Taiwan’s standing in the international democratic community.