A dramatic scene unfolded in Hualien County yesterday (October 27) when Kuomintang (KMT) legislator Fu Kun-chi hosted a “Guangfu Township Landslide Lake Reconstruction Seminar” at the Dahua Activity Center. The event, aimed at discussing post-disaster recovery plans, quickly turned into a political storm after a large group of disaster victims were denied entry to the venue.
Only local government officials, township and village representatives, and select community leaders were allowed inside. Residents affected by the recent landslide disaster protested outside, chanting, “We are the victims, why can’t we go in?”
Their exclusion drew the attention of Hualien County Council Speaker Zhang Jun, who was reportedly not informed of the seminar despite being a native of Guangfu. Visibly angered, Zhang entered the venue and kicked Fu Kun-chi’s table, demanding, “Why didn’t you notify us? Why didn’t you notify us?”
The confrontation, captured on video, quickly spread online and ignited heated public debate.
Political Reactions and Social Media Uproar
Local activist Hsu Mei-hua, known for her involvement with the anti-Ziguang Qiyou group, reacted strongly on Facebook, describing Zhang Jun’s outburst as “the biggest scene of the day.” She recounted that after Zhang’s actions went viral, supporters of the KMT and Fu Kun-chi began labeling him as a “gangster” and a “criminal.”
Hsu dismissed these criticisms, writing, “Isn’t it ironic? Shouldn’t we also look at how many illegal things Fu Kun-chi has done in the past? Isn’t it fair for one rogue to deal with another?”
She added that many Guangfu residents, frustrated over how the disaster response was handled, felt a sense of relief and vindication after Zhang’s public confrontation.
Broader Political Context
In her post, Hsu accused the “Hualien power duo”—Fu Kun-chi and his wife, Hualien County Magistrate Hsu Chen-wei—of using political influence and resources to control local governance. “Those who obey are rewarded, those who defy are punished,” she alleged, citing the exclusion of disaster victims from the meeting as evidence of such political dominance.
She urged the people of Guangfu to “wake up” and remember how they were treated during this crisis. “The people of Hualien deserve better. Let this be the beginning of liberating Hualien from political control,” she wrote.
Aftermath
Following the incident, Fu Kun-chi’s camp condemned Zhang Jun’s “violent behavior,” calling it disrespectful and inappropriate for an elected official. Zhang, however, defended his actions, saying that as a Guangfu native and council speaker, he had the right to speak up for his constituents. “If I can’t speak for the people of Guangfu, then I don’t deserve to be speaker,” he said.
As the video continues to circulate online, the altercation has become a symbol of growing political tension in Hualien, reflecting deep divisions between local officials and residents frustrated over disaster recovery and political transparency.