TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's international community recoiled in shock Wednesday (April 16) when a political activist brandished Nazi symbols during what appeared to be a calculated publicity stunt. The man, wearing a swastika armband and performing Hitler's infamous salute, drew immediate condemnation from the German Institute Taipei (德國在台協會), Germany's de facto embassy in Taiwan. The display came amid a contentious recall effort targeting several Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) legislators, Taiwan's ruling party, in New Taipei City.
The German Institute issued an unequivocal denunciation through social media, condemning what it called Sung Chien-liang's (宋建樑) deliberate display of Nazi symbols and gestures. The statement characterized Nazi ideology as embodying contempt for and persecution of humanity and highlighted the regime's systematic victimization of millions throughout Europe. German officials described the Holocaust as one of the ugliest crimes in human history while acknowledging the widespread Taiwanese public outcry against the display.
Taiwan's government also moved quickly to disassociate itself from the incident. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA, 外交部) released a statement expressing concern and appealing directly to citizens. Officials urged the public to avoid behaviors that might harm the feelings of people in other countries or tarnish Taiwan's carefully cultivated international image, particularly when such actions provide no meaningful expression of opinion. ★