Taiwan’s Great Recall: Historic bid to remove ‘pro-China’ lawmakers fails

A historic vote in Taiwan on Saturday targeting 24 opposition Kuomintang (KMT) legislators accused of being too friendly with Beijing ended without any removals but nonetheless shook the island nation’s political landscape.

The so-called “Great Recall,” Taiwan’s largest coordinated recall effort, sought to remove nearly one-fifth of the legislature in a single day. None of the targeted lawmakers lost their seats after all recall votes failed to meet Taiwan’s strict requirements.

The campaign was driven by civic groups aligned with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), accusing the KMT lawmakers of blocking defense-related legislation and favoring closer ties with Beijing. Petition organizers in each district collected enough signatures to trigger a recall vote. Under Taiwan’s recall law, a motion succeeds only if votes in favor exceed votes against and voter turnout reaches at least 25% of eligible voters. Despite millions of ballots cast and significant public interest, none of the 24 recall votes met both criteria.

The recall effort was fueled in part by frustration over legislative gridlock. The DPP won the presidency in January 2024 but lost its legislative majority, while the KMT and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) gained a combined 62 seats. Citizens’ groups framed the recall as a push to defend sovereignty and counter pro-China influence within the legislature. KMT leaders condemned the effort as politically motivated while the DPP said it reflected the democratic will of the people.

A second wave of recall votes is scheduled for August 23 targeting seven more KMT lawmakers. Analysts say the sustained effort underscores deepening political polarization and may shape local election dynamics in 2026 and national positioning before the 2028 presidential race. The outcome of the August recalls will test whether civic momentum can overcome systemic electoral barriers.