Taiwan Faces International Scrutiny: KMT Urged to Condemn Nazi Symbolism

Controversy erupts as a KMT supporter uses Nazi symbols during questioning, sparking calls for condemnation and raising concerns about Taiwan's international image.

A recent incident in Taiwan has ignited a political firestorm and drawn international attention. Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), a supporter of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), was released on bail after being questioned in a recall petition forgery case. However, the circumstances surrounding his questioning have caused an uproar: Sung appeared wearing a Nazi armband, carrying a copy of Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf, and performing a Nazi salute. This act has prompted strong reactions and calls for condemnation from within Taiwan and abroad.

The incident occurred outside the New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office on Tuesday night. This display of Nazi symbolism has been widely criticized as a serious misstep, raising concerns about Taiwan's image and its stance on human rights.

Legislator Lee has urged KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) to issue a formal statement. Lee emphasized that wearing a Nazi armband symbolizes racial discrimination and persecution, and Chu, as the KMT's leader, should apologize for Sung's actions. Failure to do so, Lee argues, could be interpreted as tacit support for such behavior.

Eric Chu responded that various forms of protest are being used to satirize the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)’s “authoritarianism.” He noted that some are calling the DPP “green communists,” showing opposition to “unjust recalls and the DPP’s tyranny.”

DPP Legislator Lin Chun-hsien (林俊憲) has labeled the situation an international issue, stressing the need for a sincere apology from the KMT. The German Institute Taipei also condemned the use of Nazi symbolism for political aims. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs echoed these sentiments, condemning the incident as “extremely inappropriate” and urging the public to avoid actions that could damage Taiwan's reputation.

The Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) also weighed in, condemning Sung’s actions and asserting that symbols of extremism, violence, and racial discrimination should not be tolerated in Taiwan. The TPP emphasized the importance of upholding democratic and legal principles and called for a deeper understanding of historical atrocities to foster an inclusive society.

Eric Chu initially framed Sung’s actions as an attempt to draw a parallel between the DPP and a communist party. Later, he clarified that the KMT opposes all forms of dictatorship. He called on KMT members and the public to join efforts to recall DPP lawmakers.

The KMT, in a later statement on Facebook, firmly rejected fascism and Nazism, emphasizing that Sung's actions were independent and not affiliated with the party. They accused the DPP of exploiting the incident to divert attention from other issues, noting that the DPP itself has used Nazi imagery in the past.