KMT committee member resigns after 'unification' video controversy

Taipei, Nov. 26 (CNA) Ho Ying-lu (何鷹鷺), a member of the Kuomintang's (KMT) Central Standing Committee, announced her resignation from the opposition party Wednesday amid controversy over a video she made calling for Taiwan's unification with China while wearing a Mao Zedong (毛澤東) shirt.

In a video posted on Douyin last month, Ho, wearing a t-shirt featuring a portrait of Mao, said she hoped Taiwan would "soon return to the embrace of the motherland."

"To quickly unify -- that is my purpose, my responsibility," she said.

As Ho's remarks came under scrutiny, the KMT's Disciplinary Committee on Nov. 19 announced that it had suspended Ho from her position on the committee, but allowed her to continue in her duties while she pursued an appeal.

The 34-member central standing committee is the highest decision-making body within the KMT's central committee.

Ho -- who according to media reports was born in Yunnan, raised in Hubei, and came to Taiwan in 1997 after meeting her Taiwanese husband -- appears to have been the only China-born member of the committee.

At a meeting of the central standing committee on Wednesday, Ho drew attention for wearing a bright green jacket -- a color associated with the KMT's rival, the Democratic Progressive Party.

KMT Chairperson Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) commented on the jacket as she greeted committee members, asking "why are you wearing so much green today?" to which Ho replied tersely, "I've gone green."

Following the meeting, Ho spoke to reporters, clarifying that she supports "peaceful unification," and was concerned about the safety of people in Taiwan if a war broke out.

Ho noted that Cheng has said "we are all Chinese people," but did not make clear if she meant the People's Republic of China (PRC) or the Republic of China (ROC, Taiwan).

The KMT should make clear which China it means, Ho said.

Visibly emotional as she finished her remarks, Ho walked away from the microphone stand before briefly returning.

"I'm done. I resign from the party," she added.