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