By Janet Huang, Vision Times
On the evening of July 26, the Anti-Communist, Defend Taiwan Volunteer Alliance, held an election night rally on Jinan Road in Taipei under the banner “Battle for the Legislature — Citizens Will Not Back Down.” The rally was organized in support of a high-profile recall campaign targeting 24 Kuomintang (KMT) legislators. But as vote counts came in, it became clear the campaign was falling short.
United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) founder Tsao Hsing-cheng, a key figure in the effort, took the stage alongside volunteers to address a crowd increasingly bracing for defeat.
Though the campaign failed, Tsao, one of the lead petitioners, attributed the disappointing outcome to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) extensive and long-term infiltration, division, and united front tactics in Taiwan — efforts he said “far exceeded expectations.” Another major factor, he added, was the challenge of campaigning in districts where the Kuomintang (KMT) holds a strong base; in such areas, high voter turnout made it difficult to overcome the mobilization power of the pan-blue camp.
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On shaky ground
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A recall initiative targeting 24 Kuomintang (KMT) legislators — launched by a coalition of civic groups — held its first round of voting on July 26. That evening, the Anti-Communist, Defend Taiwan Volunteer Alliance hosted an election night gathering outside the Legislative Yuan on Jinan Road. As results came in below expectations, Tsao took the stage earlier than scheduled — delivering a five-minute speech at 6:20 p.m. — ahead of his originally planned 8:45 p.m. appearance.
While Tsao acknowledged that the outcome fell short of expectations, he emphasized that the CCP’s infiltration and united front tactics were “far more extensive than imagined.” He also reiterated the difficulty of campaigning in deep-blue districts, where even high turnout failed to overcome entrenched KMT influence.
Upholding ‘justice and fairness’
Tsao also stressed that the motivation behind the recall effort was to uphold “moral justice and fairness.” He said, “Upholding moral justice is a fundamental value of being human. It’s a lifelong pursuit — not a matter of success or failure. Though the recall did not succeed today, we must not be discouraged. So long as we stand by justice and fairness, we have already succeeded in being true to ourselves.”
He added, “Those who suffer have no right to be pessimistic. To endure hardship is the fate of the Taiwanese people — but to face it without fear, and to rise with courage, is our mission. Though we may have temporarily failed today, our efforts have made us stronger and nobler.”
Tsao also noted that pushing the recall initiative to its second stage with a unanimous 31–0 vote was in itself “a stunning achievement that shocked many.”
He praised campaign volunteers for conducting the effort lawfully, peacefully, and with rational discipline. Their work, he said, radiated “patriotic, community-centered positive energy” and brought “warmth and strength to Taiwanese society.”
Plunging into chaos
On the flip side, he also accused the opposition of resorting to “hate-driven mobilization tactics,” spreading slander, rumors, insults, threats, violence, and false accusations — conduct he described as deeply disturbing and regrettable.
Despite the recall’s failure, Tsao emphasized that the movement had sent a clear warning to lawmakers from the KMT and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP): “We firmly oppose their use of majoritarian force to ram through poorly-drafted laws and undermine procedural justice,” he said.
Such actions, he warned, would quickly erode the rule of law and plunge Taiwan into chaos.
Reiterating the recall’s core mission, Tsao framed “moral justice” as being aligned with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights established by the United Nations — which asserts that legitimate government authority must be based on the consent of the governed, and that its fundamental duty is to protect life, property, and individual freedoms.
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He emphasized that the declaration enshrines popular sovereignty and the right to self-determination: “Taiwan’s sovereignty belongs solely to the people of Taiwan. Any attempt by the Chinese Communist Party to force unification is an act of aggression.” The CCP has long claimed Taiwan as a part of its territory. In efforts to force its reunification with the mainland, the Chinese regime has regularly sent warplanes and ships to intimidate and rattle the democratically-governed island.
Tsao added that every public servant — including all legislators — has a duty to uphold these universal principles. Failing to do so, he said, amounts to a betrayal of justice and disqualifies one from holding office in Taiwan.
He closed with a message of defiance and belief in Taiwan’s democratic future: “We believe that because of people like us, Taiwan will one day break free from the grasp of the Chinese Communist regime — a regime that disregards justice and moral principles — and forever remain a land of freedom and home of the brave.”
