Reviving the anti-communist spirit
By Paul Lin 林保華
Taipei Times 2025.4.30
Taiwanese have launched a major recall movement to remove pro-Chinese Communist Party (CCP) legislators from office, with slogans such as “resist communism, protect Taiwan” echoing throughout every corner of the nation. On April 19, a rally against China’s “united front” efforts organized by YouTuber Pa Chiung (八炯) drew 50,000 people to Ketagalan Boulevard, providing a passionate boost to the second phase of recall petitions and putting my mind at ease.
In November 2008, shortly after former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) took office, he invited then-chairman of China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits Chen Yunlin (陳雲林) to Taiwan — a move seen as a blatant intrusion. Ma even ordered that all Republic of China (ROC) flags be hidden from Chen’s sight, leading the police to remove and fold flags. When the pandas sent by China arrived at the Taipei Zoo, even the ROC flag at the zoo’s entrance was taken down so as to avoid being captured on camera.