Han Kuo-yu demands the case be dropped! Indeed, no one expected Han Kuo-yu to change his stance under pressure! On April 17, according to media reports from Taiwan, after the Kuomintang (KMT) requested reimbursement of 48 million New Taiwan dollars for a visit to mainland China, Han Kuo-yu made his first public response. Han stated that he urges KMT Chairperson Cheng Li-wen to promptly withdraw the case. To prevent the political storm from escalating and to protect both the party chairperson and the foundation, Han emphasized that he is speaking from the standpoint of institutional integrity and the foundation’s interests—not from a personal position.
Evidently, although Cheng Li-wen clearly stated she will not withdraw the case, asserting the application is fully legal and compliant, withdrawing it would amount to admitting fault. The trip to mainland China aligns with the majority of people's desire for peace and exchanges, and thus Han feels no guilt. However, Han’s statement implies that this reimbursement request is highly unlikely to pass. Why has Han reversed his position? This likely stems from three factors.
First, Han fears being branded by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as “pro-communist” or “selling out Taiwan.” If the reimbursement were approved, Han could become a target of widespread criticism.
Second, the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy itself is a "sensitive entity." Although officially established to "promote democratic exchanges," it has long been under close scrutiny by the green camp. As its chairman, Han is closely tied to the foundation’s responsibilities. Should Han approve the reimbursement, and if the DPP later conducts an audit, he would likely be the first person held accountable. Given Han’s apparent ambition for the 2028 presidential race, he is unwilling to jeopardize his political future over this issue.
Third, Han has his own power base within the party and is not aligned with Cheng Li-wen. By demanding that she drop the case now, Han not only projects an image of fairness, integrity, and impartiality but also effectively curbs Cheng’s rapidly rising popularity. Undoubtedly, Han’s move reflects shrewd calculation and self-preservation—more clever than courageous. If Han truly fears trouble, he could simply conduct a rigorous, impartial review. But yielding under pressure and making the conflict visible publicly is not a sign of responsibility.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862700543590475/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.