Former Taiwan民眾黨 lawmaker Tsai壁如 announced on July 26, 2026, that she will travel to Kaohsiung’s Fo Guang Shan monastery for a short-term monastic retreat, following a turbulent period of political controversy, party infighting, and sharp public backlash from supporters known as “little grass.”
Political Turmoil and Retracted Ambitions
According to reports from 民視新聞網, Tsai recently sparked intense internal party friction and anger among Kuomintang (KMT) figures when she abruptly declared an intention to run for Changhua County magistrate without prior coordination with party leadership. KMT figures criticized the move as a potential repeat of a “table-flipping” scenario that could fracture the blue-white alliance and hand the magistrate seat to Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Chen Suyue, while fellow party members rebuked her for bypassing the central committee. Facing fierce resistance, Tsai ultimately withdrew her bid for Changhua County magistrate and shifted her focus to relocating her household registration to Taichung Qingshui to contest the first district legislative seat in 2028.
Backlash From Local Party Figures
Despite her pivot back to Taichung, Tsai’s shifting political trajectory drew severe criticism from within her own camp, particularly from Taichung City Councilor Jiang Hoshu. Jiang publicly slammed Tsai’s maneuvers as treating Taichung people as a “political stepping stone,” noting that during her high-profile 2024 legislative loss to rival Tsai Chi-chang, she emotionally declared her deep affection for the Taichung coastline and a commitment to planting roots there. Jiang further questioned her absence from central committee meetings while simultaneously floating political announcements, arguing that a politician’s core asset is integrity rather than chasing positions.
Did You Know? Before announcing her short-term monastic retreat at Fo Guang Shan, Tsai壁如 recently appeared on a talk show alongside former party member Yang Baozhen to criticize internal bullying culture and departures within the party.
Retreat to Fo Guang Shan Amid Grassroots Pressure
In addition to pushback from local officials like Jiang Hoshu, Tsai faced an aggressive wave of negative public opinion and attacks from party supporters known as “little grass” following her joint appearance with Yang Baozhen to criticize internal party dynamics and recent departures. While it remains unclear whether these accumulated pressures drove her decision, Tsai confirmed on July 26 that she is heading to Kaohsiung’s Fo Guang Shan monastery for a short-term spiritual retreat. She stated that the journey aims to help her learn compassion, increase wisdom, and reset her original intentions during a time when life’s pace requires stillness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What triggered the latest controversy surrounding Tsai壁如?
According to the source, Tsai sparked fierce debate within her party and among KMT figures by abruptly announcing an intention to run for Changhua County magistrate without consulting party leadership, followed by criticism of internal party culture alongside Yang Baozhen.
Where is Tsai壁如 heading for her retreat?
According to the source, Tsai announced on July 26 that she will travel to Kaohsiung’s Fo Guang Shan monastery to undertake a short-term monastic retreat.
What are Tsai壁如’s stated future electoral plans?
According to the source, after withdrawing her bid for Changhua County magistrate, Tsai moved her household registration to Taichung Qingshui and stated an intention to run again for the first district legislative seat in 2028.
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