Shen Bo-yang Video in Military Training Sparks KMT Outrage at Defense Minister

Nov 11, 2026

Taiwan's opposition KMT is demanding an apology from the defense minister after discovering the military used training footage featuring a sitting DPP mayoral candidate, a political fight over military neutrality just over two weeks before elections.

  • Taiwan's defense ministry confirmed that videos of DPP Taipei mayoral candidate Shen Bo-yang, recorded in 2023 when he was a university professor discussing cognitive warfare, are still being shown in new recruit training and reservist call-ups.
  • KMT officials say this turns the military into a tool for one party's campaign and are demanding Defense Minister Wellington Koo publicly apologize and the political warfare bureau chief resign.
  • The real complaint isn't when the video was made, but why it wasn't pulled once Shen became a candidate — the ministry couldn't say how long it played or how many soldiers saw it.
  • Separately, a Chinese tourist's hotel booking fight over Taiwan sovereignty wording, and a KMT welfare-bill veto standoff between the premier and opposition, are adding to pre-election friction.

Outlook: Expect the KMT to keep pressing for a full accounting of the video's use as the campaign heads into its final two weeks.

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