Yilan recalls village chief Wu Ping‑tsung

Voters in Lunpi Village in Yilan County recalled village chief Wu Ping-tsung on Friday after a fight over a mining project in Indigenous traditional territory. (focustaiwan.tw) (cna.com.tw) The Yilan County Election Commission counted 214 votes in favor of recall, 120 against and four invalid ballots. Turnout was 338 voters out of 606 eligible voters. (cna.com.tw) (news.ltn.com.tw) Under Taiwan’s recall rules, the yes votes had to exceed the no votes and also reach at least one-quarter of the electorate in the district. The 214 yes votes cleared that bar. (cna.com.tw) (news.ltn.com.tw) The dispute grew out of the Dongjun mining project in Lunpi tribal traditional territory. Recall organizers said Wu ignored opposition from residents and used “administrative neutrality” as cover for siding with the developer. (focustaiwan.tw) (cna.com.tw) The recall campaign said Lunpi also faces pressure from the Yongheyan mining project and a separate river-sand development zone, with the combined area exceeding 400 hectares. Organizers said they feared a chain reaction of new excavation applications. (cna.com.tw) Wu rejected the accusations before the vote. In a March statement, he said the mining proposal had to follow the Indigenous Peoples Basic Law, village consultations were being held, and any decision on development should be made by public opinion. (cna.com.tw 1) (cna.com.tw 2) Wu also said the recall was tied to election grudges and that he had “absolutely” not escorted the project through the process. Focus Taiwan reported he could not immediately be reached after the result. (cna.com.tw) (focustaiwan.tw) The case is unusually local but still shows how Taiwan’s recall system can be used outside national party politics. Liberty Times said Wu is the second village chief ever recalled in Yilan County. (news.ltn.com.tw) Because the remaining term is under two years, there will be no by-election under Taiwan’s Local Government Act. Datong Township will appoint an acting village chief until this term ends. (news.ltn.com.tw) The next formal step is administrative, not political: the county election commission is scheduled to review and certify the result on April 28, 2026. (cna.com.tw)