TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Liu Tsai-wei, spokesperson for Hou Yu-ih presidential campaign, and Taoyuan City Councilor Ling Tao raised doubts on Monday (Aug. 14) about the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Lai Pin-yu's anti-nuclear stance, saying she was influenced by her father's partisan political donation.
During a press conference earlier that day, Ling unveiled that Lai's father, Lai Ching-lin, has been chairman of 20 energy-related companies and made up to NT＄7.78 million in political donations between 2018 to 2022 to the ruling party's candidates.
The overall donation amount came from J&V Energy (NT＄3.85 million), Jin Cheng Energy (NT＄3.1 million), Skynergy (NT＄100,000 ), and NT＄730,000 from Lai's father.
"NT＄ 6.65 million went to DPP members, taking up to 85%. After deducting the amount for the party, the elected party members accounted for NT＄6.15 million, with a high election rate numbered at 84%," Ling added, "candidates less likely to be elected receive less donation."
The Kuomintang (KMT) remarks came after the DPP legislator's criticism of Hou's plan to extend and revive four nuclear power plants in Taiwan should he secure the presidency.
Liu Tsai-wei, the spokesperson of Hou's campaign office, pointed out that all the recorded donations went to party members belonging to specific factions, "in fact, J&V Energy donated NT＄1 million to DPP legislator Lai Rui-long in 2019."
Liu urged the DPP to put people's interests first and propose pragmatic energy solutions for the country instead of opting for individual interests.