Public Television Issue Sparks Cross-Party Controversy, Li Yuan: Hu Yuan-hui is 100% Legitimate Chairman
Taiwan's Minister of Culture, Li Yuan, defended Public Television Service (PTS) Chairman Hu Yuan-hui amid a cross-party dispute in the Legislative Yuan regarding Hu's legitimacy, stating that Hu is a "100% legitimate chairman." Minister Li also revealed that the Executive Yuan has requested the Legislative Yuan to re-recommend eight new review committee members.
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- 📰 Published: May 8, 2026 at 11:49
- 🔍 Collected: May 8, 2026 at 12:01 (12 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 9, 2026 at 01:11 (13h 9m after Collected)
(Central News Agency reporter Chen Chun-hua, Taipei, May 8) Public Television Service (PTS) Chairman Hu Yuan-hui was asked to leave a meeting room yesterday during his appearance at the Legislative Yuan for questioning. Culture Minister Li Yuan said today that Hu Yuan-hui is 100% legally the legitimate chairman of the Public Broadcasting Service Group; he added that on May 5, the Executive Yuan sent a letter to the Legislative Yuan, asking it to re-recommend eight new review committee members, emphasizing that he genuinely tried to communicate.
The 8th term of the PTS board of directors has been difficult to form. Yesterday, May 7, at the Legislative Yuan's Education and Culture Committee, Kuomintang (KMT) legislator Lo Chih-chiang questioned Hu Yuan-hui's eligibility to attend and be questioned, demanding his departure before the meeting began. However, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators Chen Hsiu-pao and Wu Pei-yi demanded Hu Yuan-hui's presence for questioning. The committee convener, KMT legislator Lo Ting-wei, and others deemed it illegal, halting the questioning four times with "recesses" and refusing to let Hu Yuan-hui take the stage for questioning.
Minister Li Yuan posted on Facebook yesterday evening, expressing special gratitude to Hu Yuan-hui and the PTS board, saying, "Please believe in our determination to protect the last pure land of public media."
The Legislative Yuan continued its general policy interpellation today. Minister Li Yuan said in an interview before the session that posting on Facebook was a last resort because he doesn't edit short videos or mobilize online armies. His two main points were: first, Hu Yuan-hui is still the chairman of the Public Broadcasting Service Group, and is 100% legitimate under the law.
Second, if a few ruling party legislators hadn't helped bring Hu Yuan-hui back yesterday, the scene would have been truly terrible, and he wouldn't have known how to protest. He said the cabinet has had a tough two years, and if he protested strongly, "they would threaten him with the budget," but not protesting would seem like capitulation. He thanked the DPP legislators for taking turns to bring Hu Yuan-hui back, which was a declaration that Hu Yuan-hui should not have been driven out.
Minister Li Yuan stated that on May 5, the Executive Yuan sent a letter to the Legislative Yuan, asking it to re-recommend eight new review committee members. He doesn't know if the KMT or Taiwan People's Party will send representatives, but he appealed that after the previous eight review committee members resigned, the review meeting couldn't proceed, and he genuinely had no choice. At this point, there is no room for party negotiations.
Minister Li Yuan said that in March, he had nominated 10 PTS board candidates, all of whom had no party background or political leanings. He noted that the reason for not passing the 10 candidates last year was very far-fetched; he also asked how to improve, including seven major items such as youth, ethnic balance, and new media. He insisted, "I really did communicate," and that communication is indeed his best ability in life.
Minister Li Yuan stated that he has evidence of how many people agreed to come on what date, and why they suddenly didn't. They might think Hu Yuan-hui is not the chairman and thus prevent him from entering the Legislative Yuan, but "why agree to let him (Hu Yuan-hui) come, and then drive him out after he's entered?" Why humiliate people?
Minister Li Yuan said that Taiwan is a free and democratic society, and we must not let children see this and think that humiliating others is acceptable. He found it very sad. "When you are repeatedly humiliated, I don't know how to react, because should I get angry? Should I humiliate back?" He doesn't know what to do. (Editor: Su Chih-tsung) 1150508
The 8th term of the PTS board of directors has been difficult to form. Yesterday, May 7, at the Legislative Yuan's Education and Culture Committee, Kuomintang (KMT) legislator Lo Chih-chiang questioned Hu Yuan-hui's eligibility to attend and be questioned, demanding his departure before the meeting began. However, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators Chen Hsiu-pao and Wu Pei-yi demanded Hu Yuan-hui's presence for questioning. The committee convener, KMT legislator Lo Ting-wei, and others deemed it illegal, halting the questioning four times with "recesses" and refusing to let Hu Yuan-hui take the stage for questioning.
Minister Li Yuan posted on Facebook yesterday evening, expressing special gratitude to Hu Yuan-hui and the PTS board, saying, "Please believe in our determination to protect the last pure land of public media."
The Legislative Yuan continued its general policy interpellation today. Minister Li Yuan said in an interview before the session that posting on Facebook was a last resort because he doesn't edit short videos or mobilize online armies. His two main points were: first, Hu Yuan-hui is still the chairman of the Public Broadcasting Service Group, and is 100% legitimate under the law.
Second, if a few ruling party legislators hadn't helped bring Hu Yuan-hui back yesterday, the scene would have been truly terrible, and he wouldn't have known how to protest. He said the cabinet has had a tough two years, and if he protested strongly, "they would threaten him with the budget," but not protesting would seem like capitulation. He thanked the DPP legislators for taking turns to bring Hu Yuan-hui back, which was a declaration that Hu Yuan-hui should not have been driven out.
Minister Li Yuan stated that on May 5, the Executive Yuan sent a letter to the Legislative Yuan, asking it to re-recommend eight new review committee members. He doesn't know if the KMT or Taiwan People's Party will send representatives, but he appealed that after the previous eight review committee members resigned, the review meeting couldn't proceed, and he genuinely had no choice. At this point, there is no room for party negotiations.
Minister Li Yuan said that in March, he had nominated 10 PTS board candidates, all of whom had no party background or political leanings. He noted that the reason for not passing the 10 candidates last year was very far-fetched; he also asked how to improve, including seven major items such as youth, ethnic balance, and new media. He insisted, "I really did communicate," and that communication is indeed his best ability in life.
Minister Li Yuan stated that he has evidence of how many people agreed to come on what date, and why they suddenly didn't. They might think Hu Yuan-hui is not the chairman and thus prevent him from entering the Legislative Yuan, but "why agree to let him (Hu Yuan-hui) come, and then drive him out after he's entered?" Why humiliate people?
Minister Li Yuan said that Taiwan is a free and democratic society, and we must not let children see this and think that humiliating others is acceptable. He found it very sad. "When you are repeatedly humiliated, I don't know how to react, because should I get angry? Should I humiliate back?" He doesn't know what to do. (Editor: Su Chih-tsung) 1150508