Recall of Lunpi Village Chief Wu Bing-zong Approved Over Mining Dispute in Yilan
A recall vote against Wu Bing-zong, the chief of Lunpi Village in Yilan County, was successful today. The recall was sparked by a controversial mining development project in the village's traditional territory, with residents expressing dissatisfaction over the chief's handling of the matter.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 25, 2026 at 20:09
- 🔍 Collected: April 25, 2026 at 20:31 (22 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 25, 2026 at 22:24 (1h 52m after Collected)
(Central News Agency reporter Shen Ru-feng, Yilan, 25th) A mining development project in Lunpi Village, Datong Township, Yilan County, has sparked significant controversy, leading to a successful recall of the village chief, Wu Bing-zong. The recall vote took place today, and the results showed that the number of 'yes' votes exceeded 'no' votes and reached the legal requirement of more than one-fourth of the total eligible voters, meaning the recall has passed.
The recall was triggered by a mining project located within the traditional territory of the Lunpi tribe. Opponents of the development argued that while developers sought to extract minerals on traditional lands, Wu Bing-zong turned a blind eye to the community's opposition. They accused him of using 'administrative neutrality' as a facade to facilitate the project. To protect future generations from environmental disaster, a petition for recall was launched.
In a statement on his Facebook page in early March, Wu Bing-zong maintained that the mining development must follow the Indigenous Peoples Basic Law. He stated that consultation meetings were held in various tribal areas, and the decision to allow development rested with public opinion. He denied any wrongdoing, stating he believed voters would see the truth and make the right choice. He also noted that he had always served with a non-confrontational attitude and would accept the outcome of the institutional process.
The Yilan County Election Commission stated tonight that there were 606 eligible voters for this recall. A total of 338 people cast their votes. The final count was 214 votes in favor of the recall, 120 against, and 4 invalid votes. The commission will hold a meeting on April 28 to officially certify the results. As of 6 p.m., Wu Bing-zong had not answered calls for comment on the outcome. (Editor: Xie Ya-zhu) 1150425
The recall was triggered by a mining project located within the traditional territory of the Lunpi tribe. Opponents of the development argued that while developers sought to extract minerals on traditional lands, Wu Bing-zong turned a blind eye to the community's opposition. They accused him of using 'administrative neutrality' as a facade to facilitate the project. To protect future generations from environmental disaster, a petition for recall was launched.
In a statement on his Facebook page in early March, Wu Bing-zong maintained that the mining development must follow the Indigenous Peoples Basic Law. He stated that consultation meetings were held in various tribal areas, and the decision to allow development rested with public opinion. He denied any wrongdoing, stating he believed voters would see the truth and make the right choice. He also noted that he had always served with a non-confrontational attitude and would accept the outcome of the institutional process.
The Yilan County Election Commission stated tonight that there were 606 eligible voters for this recall. A total of 338 people cast their votes. The final count was 214 votes in favor of the recall, 120 against, and 4 invalid votes. The commission will hold a meeting on April 28 to officially certify the results. As of 6 p.m., Wu Bing-zong had not answered calls for comment on the outcome. (Editor: Xie Ya-zhu) 1150425