Public Television Issue Leads to Cross-Party Confrontation; Lo Ting-wei Calls for Recess Four Times, Refusing Hu Yuan-hui to Take the Stand
A political dispute erupted in Taiwan''s Legislative Yuan over the Public Television Service (PTS) board. Blue camp legislator Lo Ting-wei repeatedly halted an interpellation session, refusing PTS Chairman Hu Yuan-hui to take the stand, leading to clashes with green camp legislators. The core issue is the legality of Hu Yuan-hui''s chairmanship after an amendment to the ''PTS Act'' removed the ''extension clause.'' While the blue camp argues Hu is a ''former chairman,'' the green camp and the Ministry of Culture contend that, under the ''Foundation Act,'' the incumbent chairman must continue until a new board is formed.
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- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 20:19
- 🔍 Collected: May 7, 2026 at 20:32 (12 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 7, 2026 at 20:54 (22 min after Collected)
Central News Agency (CNA) (Reporter Chao Ching-yu, Taipei, 7th) The stalemate over the Public Television Service (PTS) board of directors escalated in the Legislative Yuan. Green camp legislators, including Chen Hsiu-pao, demanded that PTS Chairman Hu Yuan-hui attend the interpellation session. Blue camp legislators, led by convener Lo Ting-wei, deemed it illegal and repeatedly called for a ''recess'' four times to halt the interpellation, refusing Hu Yuan-hui to take the stand. This led to several clashes between blue and green legislators.
The 8th term of the PTS board of directors faced difficulties in its formation. Regarding Hu Yuan-hui''s qualification for interpellation, Kuomintang (KMT) legislator Lo Chih-chiang today demanded Hu Yuan-hui''s departure before the start of the Legislative Yuan''s Education and Culture Committee meeting. Hu Yuan-hui subsequently left but did not leave the Legislative Yuan.
After noon, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators Chen Hsiu-pao and Wu Pei-yi demanded Hu Yuan-hui''s presence for interpellation, which Lo Ting-wei considered illegal. Hu Yuan-hui returned to the chamber at noon and sat below the stand, leading to several disputes between blue and green legislators.
When Chen Hsiu-pao took the stand for interpellation, she asked Chairman Hu Yuan-hui to come to the stand for questioning. Lo Ting-wei stated that the Legislative Yuan had passed an amendment to the ''PTS Act,'' officially removing the ''extension clause,'' meaning Hu Yuan-hui was no longer the chairman. Chen Hsiu-pao questioned Lo Ting-wei''s deprivation of her right to interpellate, demanding Chairman Hu Yuan-hui''s presence for questioning based on the committee''s attendance list.
DPP legislators Wu Pei-yi and Wu Szu-yao also joined in support, demanding Hu Yuan-hui return to the chamber. Blue and green legislators then began to argue on the spot over the legality of Hu Yuan-hui''s chairmanship. Lo Ting-wei called for a ''recess'' four times, leaving Ministry of Culture officials looking at each other, and the chamber repeatedly idled.
Around 3 PM, Lo Ting-wei returned to the chamber and restarted the meeting. Wu Pei-yi, taking the stand for interpellation, proactively stated that all future issues concerning PTS would be answered by Minister of Culture Li Yuan. Wu Pei-yi said that Chairman Hu Yuan-hui came to the site according to the Legislative Yuan''s Education and Culture Committee meeting notice, ''Not allowing him to take the stand for interpellation is castrating our legislators'' right to interpellate. Will the same script be used when reviewing the Ministry of Culture''s budget in the future? Please, Minister, insist on being the backing for cultural figures.''
The Education and Culture Committee meeting ended around 5:10 PM today, and Hu Yuan-hui was unable to take the stand to answer questions.
Whether Hu Yuan-hui is the current PTS chairman or a ''former'' chairman is a point of contention between the blue and green parties. Lo Chih-chiang argued that the Legislative Yuan passed an amendment to the ''PTS Act,'' officially removing the ''extension clause,'' and the bill was promulgated and implemented by the President on February 4, 115 (ROC calendar). Without the extension clause, according to the law passed by the Legislative Yuan and promulgated by the President, Hu Yuan-hui is a ''former chairman'' rather than the current chairman.
Wu Szu-yao, on the other hand, stated that according to Article 2, Paragraph 2 of the ''PTS Act,'' ''The establishment, organization, and operation of the PTS Foundation shall, unless otherwise provided by this Act, be governed by the Foundation Act, the Civil Code, communication and broadcasting laws, and other relevant regulations.'' Now that the ''extension clause'' has been deleted, the relevant regulations revert to the provisions of the ''Foundation Act.'' ''Currently, it is impossible to form a new board of directors, so the incumbent chairman can only continue in office.''
The Ministry of Culture stated that before the amendment of the ''Public Television Act'' in 2023, PTS also experienced 968 days without completing the selection of directors and supervisors. In such cases, according to the ''Foundation Act,'' under the basic principles of stable operation and safeguarding the rights and interests of public broadcasting group employees, the incumbent directors and supervisors continue in office.
The Ministry of Culture stated that the 7th term directors and supervisors, in accordance with relevant provisions of the ''Public Television Act'' and Article 62, Paragraph 1, mutatis mutandis Article 40, Paragraph 3 of the ''Foundation Act,'' shall continue to perform their duties until the 8th term directors and supervisors take office. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui) 1150507 Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship is a force to protect press freedom. Download CNA ''First-hand News'' APP to grasp the latest news instantly. The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.
The 8th term of the PTS board of directors faced difficulties in its formation. Regarding Hu Yuan-hui''s qualification for interpellation, Kuomintang (KMT) legislator Lo Chih-chiang today demanded Hu Yuan-hui''s departure before the start of the Legislative Yuan''s Education and Culture Committee meeting. Hu Yuan-hui subsequently left but did not leave the Legislative Yuan.
After noon, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators Chen Hsiu-pao and Wu Pei-yi demanded Hu Yuan-hui''s presence for interpellation, which Lo Ting-wei considered illegal. Hu Yuan-hui returned to the chamber at noon and sat below the stand, leading to several disputes between blue and green legislators.
When Chen Hsiu-pao took the stand for interpellation, she asked Chairman Hu Yuan-hui to come to the stand for questioning. Lo Ting-wei stated that the Legislative Yuan had passed an amendment to the ''PTS Act,'' officially removing the ''extension clause,'' meaning Hu Yuan-hui was no longer the chairman. Chen Hsiu-pao questioned Lo Ting-wei''s deprivation of her right to interpellate, demanding Chairman Hu Yuan-hui''s presence for questioning based on the committee''s attendance list.
DPP legislators Wu Pei-yi and Wu Szu-yao also joined in support, demanding Hu Yuan-hui return to the chamber. Blue and green legislators then began to argue on the spot over the legality of Hu Yuan-hui''s chairmanship. Lo Ting-wei called for a ''recess'' four times, leaving Ministry of Culture officials looking at each other, and the chamber repeatedly idled.
Around 3 PM, Lo Ting-wei returned to the chamber and restarted the meeting. Wu Pei-yi, taking the stand for interpellation, proactively stated that all future issues concerning PTS would be answered by Minister of Culture Li Yuan. Wu Pei-yi said that Chairman Hu Yuan-hui came to the site according to the Legislative Yuan''s Education and Culture Committee meeting notice, ''Not allowing him to take the stand for interpellation is castrating our legislators'' right to interpellate. Will the same script be used when reviewing the Ministry of Culture''s budget in the future? Please, Minister, insist on being the backing for cultural figures.''
The Education and Culture Committee meeting ended around 5:10 PM today, and Hu Yuan-hui was unable to take the stand to answer questions.
Whether Hu Yuan-hui is the current PTS chairman or a ''former'' chairman is a point of contention between the blue and green parties. Lo Chih-chiang argued that the Legislative Yuan passed an amendment to the ''PTS Act,'' officially removing the ''extension clause,'' and the bill was promulgated and implemented by the President on February 4, 115 (ROC calendar). Without the extension clause, according to the law passed by the Legislative Yuan and promulgated by the President, Hu Yuan-hui is a ''former chairman'' rather than the current chairman.
Wu Szu-yao, on the other hand, stated that according to Article 2, Paragraph 2 of the ''PTS Act,'' ''The establishment, organization, and operation of the PTS Foundation shall, unless otherwise provided by this Act, be governed by the Foundation Act, the Civil Code, communication and broadcasting laws, and other relevant regulations.'' Now that the ''extension clause'' has been deleted, the relevant regulations revert to the provisions of the ''Foundation Act.'' ''Currently, it is impossible to form a new board of directors, so the incumbent chairman can only continue in office.''
The Ministry of Culture stated that before the amendment of the ''Public Television Act'' in 2023, PTS also experienced 968 days without completing the selection of directors and supervisors. In such cases, according to the ''Foundation Act,'' under the basic principles of stable operation and safeguarding the rights and interests of public broadcasting group employees, the incumbent directors and supervisors continue in office.
The Ministry of Culture stated that the 7th term directors and supervisors, in accordance with relevant provisions of the ''Public Television Act'' and Article 62, Paragraph 1, mutatis mutandis Article 40, Paragraph 3 of the ''Foundation Act,'' shall continue to perform their duties until the 8th term directors and supervisors take office. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui) 1150507 Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship is a force to protect press freedom. Download CNA ''First-hand News'' APP to grasp the latest news instantly. The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.