Administrative Interference and Inter-Ministerial Failure: MOHW Minister Chiu Tai-yuan Exposes President Lai Ching-te's Direct Phone Reprimand of Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming

On September 21, 2024, Minister of Health and Welfare Chiu Tai-yuan publicly exposed during a medical event that President Lai Ching-te was enraged by communication failures between the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Health and Welfare regarding green healthcare carbon reduction policies. Chiu revealed that President Lai had "personally called and severely scolded Peng Chi-ming." This revelation sparked intense political controversy and public concern. Opposition lawmakers raised serious questions about President Lai bypassing the Premier to directly interfere in cabinet administration and privately scold ministers, which violates the constitutional separation of powers in the Republic of China (ROC). The scandal also exposed severe coordination breakdowns within the new cabinet. Minister Peng was placed in an extremely awkward position and had to repeatedly issue statements defending President Lai to defuse the tension. This incident highlights the authoritarian management style of the Lai administration and severely degraded the administrative autonomy and professional dignity of cabinet ministers.