In a week marked by legal drama and new transparency measures, Taiwan’s political and administrative landscape has been thrust into the spotlight. On September 15, 2025, the Ocean Affairs Council held a highly anticipated series of promotional lectures to explain the newly enacted Public Interest Whistleblower Protection Act. Just a day later, the Taipei District Court continued its hearings into high-profile financial misconduct allegations involving Kuomintang (KMT) party officials, including Chairman Ke Wenzhe. These parallel developments have highlighted both the government’s push for greater integrity and the deepening rifts within Taiwan’s political sphere.
The Ocean Affairs Council’s event, dubbed the “Public Interest Whistleblower Protection Act New Law Explanation Meeting,” was designed to help public servants and agency staff understand the new whistleblower protections that officially came into effect on July 22, 2025. According to the Council, the law’s core aim is to encourage both public employees and ordinary citizens to bravely report illegal acts, offering comprehensive protection mechanisms to shield whistleblowers from retaliation or unfair treatment. The meeting, which blended in-person and online participation, featured a lecture by Qiu, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Justice’s Department of Administrative Enforcement, who outlined the law’s framework, reporting procedures, and safeguards for those who step forward.
Ocean Affairs Council Secretary-General Liu Guolie addressed the gathering, emphasizing the importance of the new law. "This explanation meeting is to help colleagues fully understand the new law’s content, grasp the practical operation process of whistleblower cases, and ensure whistleblower rights are protected," Liu said, according to the Council’s official statement. He further expressed hope that the event would reduce misunderstandings and disputes, foster a culture supportive of whistleblowers, and enhance both administrative integrity and public trust in government.
Attendees responded enthusiastically, noting that the session clarified the requirements for submitting a report, the procedures involved, and the protections available under the new law. Many felt that the legislation not only safeguards the rights of whistleblowers but also boosts the credibility of government agencies. The Council’s Department of Government Ethics pledged to continue offering training and promotional activities to raise awareness, foster transparency, and collectively push back against corruption. “We aim to create an open and transparent administrative environment, working together to achieve the goal of a clean government,” a Council official remarked.
While the Ocean Affairs Council was promoting a culture of openness, the Taipei District Court was wrestling with the fallout from a series of explosive corruption allegations at the heart of Taiwan’s political establishment. On September 16, 2025, the court continued hearings in a case involving KMT Chairman Ke Wenzhe, Muke Company Chairwoman Li Wenjuan, accountant Duan Muzheng, and former KMT campaign finance head Li Wenzong. The case centers on accusations of financial misconduct and political espionage, with prosecutors alleging that Ke Wenzhe and others misappropriated significant sums from various foundations and companies.
The court upheld a previous decision to set Ke Wenzhe’s bail at 70 million NT dollars, restricting his contact with certain party members. Prosecutors said they would decide whether to appeal after receiving the full ruling. The list of those Ke is barred from contacting has narrowed, now including only legislator Huang Shanshan and Deputy Secretary-General Xu Fu. The case has drawn intense scrutiny, with some seeing it as a test of Taiwan’s commitment to rooting out corruption, while others allege political motivations behind the investigation.
KMT Chairman Huang Guochang did not mince words in his criticism of the proceedings. "The court’s decision is a heavy slap in the face to prosecutors’ unreasonable claims," Huang said, according to local reports. He accused the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of exploiting the media and political operatives to divide the KMT, suggesting that the prosecutors’ focus on party affairs and personnel decisions amounted to political surveillance rather than legitimate investigation. "They kept asking about party affairs and Ke Wenzhe’s personnel arrangements. Even questions about presidential campaign activities and strategies were raised. When did the DPP start abusing judicial procedures not just to go after political rivals, but to include political surveillance as well?" Huang asked, echoing the frustration within his party.
Huang went further, drawing a sharp comparison between the treatment of Ke Wenzhe and the DPP. "If the DPP were held to even a tenth of the standard applied to Ke Wenzhe, the stench would be unbearable," he quipped. He cited a recent poll by the Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation, claiming that President Lai Ching-te’s approval ratings had dipped even lower than Ke’s, despite Ke having spent a year under relentless attack and imprisonment. Huang’s remarks captured the mood among many KMT supporters, who see the investigation as politically motivated.
Meanwhile, the case’s details have only added to the intrigue. Prosecutors allege that Ke Wenzhe illegally appropriated 6.234 million NT dollars from Muke Company and misused 8.27 million NT dollars from the Public Expectation Foundation. During the hearing, former campaign finance head Li Wenzong testified that after receiving 8 million NT dollars, he and Li Wenjuan transferred the funds to the New Homeland Association at the direction of Ke’s secretary, Xu Zhiyu—nicknamed "Orange"—though Xu did not specify the money’s source. The court also heard about other alleged misappropriations, including 600,000 NT dollars in political donations and 8.27 million NT dollars diverted from the Public Expectation Foundation. The next hearing will continue to probe these claims.
Not everyone within the political establishment is eager for the drama to continue. Legislator Chen Zhihui, from the DPP, expressed hope that prosecutors would not file further appeals, noting that many witnesses have already testified under oath and that greater clarity is preferable for all involved. "There’s a sense of relief," Chen reportedly said, reflecting the exhaustion that has set in among those caught up in the legal proceedings.
The dual headlines from this week—one about new protections for whistleblowers, the other about allegations of political spying and financial misconduct—offer a revealing snapshot of Taiwan’s current moment. On one hand, the government is making real strides to encourage transparency and protect those who expose wrongdoing. On the other, the nation’s political elite remain locked in a bitter struggle, with accusations of corruption and political persecution flying in both directions. The coming weeks will show whether these efforts to promote integrity can withstand the pressures of partisan conflict and public skepticism.
For now, Taiwan finds itself at a crossroads. The success of the new whistleblower law and the resolution of high-profile corruption investigations will test the country’s ability to balance justice, transparency, and political fairness—an undertaking that’s as challenging as it is vital.
