Opposition parties take aim at 'divisive' DPP on National Day

Taipei, Oct. 10 (CNA) Taiwan's opposition parties marked National Day by accusing the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of exploiting political power to deepen social divisions and weaken democratic institutions by staging nationwide recall campaigns targeting opposition lawmakers.

At separate National Day events in Taipei, Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) both criticized President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) administration for prioritizing partisan interests over national unity.

Speaking at the KMT's flag-raising ceremony, Chu said the wave of recall campaigns against opposition lawmakers represented "the biggest crisis in Taiwan's democratic history," accusing the DPP of abusing state mechanisms.

Chu also warned that Taiwan's economy faces growing challenges amid shifting U.S. tariff policies and global uncertainty. He urged the government to ensure that key industries, such as semiconductors, remain based in Taiwan to strengthen long-term competitiveness and resilience.

On cross-strait issues, Chu said Taiwan's future should not depend on either Washington or Beijing.

"The Republic of China must be self-reliant," he said, adding that his party supports strengthening national defense while maintaining stable and constructive exchanges across the Taiwan Strait.

Speaking on the sidelines of the official National Day event at the Presidential Office, Huang said the DPP's governance over the past year had deepened mistrust and distracted the public from pressing domestic issues.

He urged Lai to "heal the wounds of partisan conflict" and work to restore public trust.

Huang also warned that Taiwan faces intensifying internal and external pressures, citing high U.S. tariffs and the anticipated meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平).

The TPP issued a statement urging Lai to end what it described as "the toxic culture of online attacks, disinformation, and judicial weaponization," and to act as "the president of all Taiwanese people" by leading efforts to rebuild democracy and social cohesion.