KMT brushes off Ko Wen-je’s criticisms of the partyStaff writer, with CNAThe Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday declined to retaliate against former Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) chairman Ko Wen-je’s (柯文哲) criticism, as the two parties continue to eye cooperation ahead of the local elections in November. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Deputy Chairman Hsiao Hsu-tsen, right, speaks during a radio interview with show host Anne Wang in Taipei yesterday. Asked about Ko’s statements, KMT Deputy Chairman Hsiao Hsu-tsen (蕭旭岑) said in a radio interview that Ko is “straightforward and outspoken” by nature, which sometimes rubs people the wrong way. Nevertheless, it is true that without the support of TPP voters, “the KMT would not have made it through the recall,” Hsiao said, adding that people should not “react emotionally” to what Ko said. TPP Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) had said a joint agenda with the KMT has been largely drafted and is awaiting the KMT’s ratification.

Source: Taipei Times January 19, 2026 17:12 UTC