On this land of Taiwan, we once harbored hope, anticipating a more prosperous, secure, and united future. In 2016, when Tsai Ing-wen held high the banner of “Light Up Taiwan,” many cast a vote of confidence, hoping the DPP would build upon the economic and democratic foundations long established by the Republic of China (R.O.C.) and lead us toward a better tomorrow.
However, ten years later, the consecutive rule of Tsai Ing-wen and Lai Ching-te has turned that hope into a mirage. The DPP, which once branded itself as “Democratic Progressive,” has become, in the eyes of many, the “Degressive Party”—a synonym for setbacks in livelihood, safety, and national unity.
The policy errors, governance incompetence, and political calculations of the Tsai-Lai era have not only exhausted Taiwan’s existing advantages but have also pushed this land to a dangerous brink.
Livelihood Regression: From Stability to a Nightmare of Burdens
I remember when Taiwan’s nights were brightly lit, and stable electricity was as natural as the air we breathe. Our manufacturing industry was world-renowned for its low electricity costs; small business owners counted orders with a smile, and housewives didn’t have to worry about power bills.
But today, Tsai Ing-wen’s “Nuclear-Free Homeland” policy has struck like a heavy blow, shattering that reality.
The massive blackouts of August 15, 2017, and May 2021 left factories idled and homes dark, with citizens cursing in the shadows. In 2024, electricity prices surged by an average of 11%, leaving businesses struggling and utility bills snowballing for every household. With fossil fuels accounting for 80% of power generation, air pollution has left our children coughing incessantly as the blue skies are swallowed by coal smoke.
Inflation, too, has become an unbridled horse. Between 2021 and 2023, the prices of vegetables, rent, and fuel rose in turns. While the CPI climbed, real wages seemed frozen. Young people joke bitterly: “Breakfast is now 60 TWD, but wages are still stuck at 22K—how do we survive?” Housing prices are even more absurd; with a price-to-income ratio of 15 in Taipei, the dream of homeownership has been crushed. The Tsai-Lai administration shouts about “Housing Justice” while the youth are forced to “lie flat.”
Not to mention the tragedy of the tourism industry. Once, tourists from the Mainland filled Sun Moon Lake and Alishan. But the DPP’s Cross-Strait policies caused Mainland tourist numbers to plummet from 4.18 million to a fraction of that, resulting in billions in losses. Walk through a night market in Tainan, and vendors will tell you: “I used to make 100,000 a month; now I barely clear 20,000.” This is not a natural disaster; it is a policy-driven catastrophe.
Taiwan’s economic foundation, once the envy of the world, was built on semiconductors and an export-led economy through decades of hard work by figures like Chiang Ching-kuo and various experts. Yet the Tsai-Lai administration has squandered this inheritance like a spendthrift heir.
Safety Regression: From Peace to the Fear of War
Taiwanese people love peace. In the past, despite fluctuations, Cross-Strait relations remained relatively stable. But the “Resist China, Protect Taiwan” slogan has pushed the R.O.C. to the edge of conflict. Following the rejection of the “1992 Consensus,” military aircraft maneuvers have become a daily occurrence. Have you ever heard the roar of jets late at night and felt your heart tighten, worrying about your children’s future?
Defense spending has soared to 586.3 billion TWD, squeezing budgets for education and healthcare. We pay more taxes and buy more weapons, yet receive only greater insecurity. The “Pro-US, Resist China” strategy has turned our island into a pawn in a great power game. When U.S. tariffs reached a staggering 32% in early 2025, the vulnerability of our economy became painfully clear. Peace dividends are gone, and economic losses have arrived—is this the “safety” Tsai and Lai promised?
Worse still is the collapse of public order. Fraud cases surged from 20,000 in 2016 to over 36,000 by 2022, with losses reaching 80 billion TWD. Taiwan has been mocked by international media as a “Scam Island.” Drug cases have reached over 65,000, with new synthetic drugs even entering elementary schools.
Unity Regression: From Harmony to a Divided Tragedy
The people of the R.O.C. cherish unity. Yet the Tsai-Lai administration has torn this beautiful island apart. The 2018 pension reform was like a knife to the hearts of military, public, and teaching personnel, as pensions were slashed and veterans took to the streets in the “800 Heroes” protests.
Blue-Green polarization has been pushed to the extreme. In 2024 and 2025, legislative reforms triggered physical brawls in Parliament, and the DPP launched a “Great Recall” movement against opposition legislators. On social media, people lament: “What has happened to Taiwan? Everyone just fights; no one wants to solve problems.”
Even freedom of speech faces a shadow. Incidents of “checking the water meter” (police visits for online criticism) and the legal hounding of those questioning official narratives have led many to whisper about a “Green Terror.”
Conclusion: The Calamity of the ‘Degressive Party’
Over the past ten years, the Tsai-Lai administration has transformed the island of Taiwan from a prosperous, stable haven into a perilous place of economic hardship and social division. Soaring electricity prices and frequent blackouts crush families; war shadows destabilize our foundation; and scams and drugs make our streets unsafe. They have exhausted the accumulation of decades without paving a way forward.
The DPP is no longer a synonym for “Progress,” but a mark of “Regression.” They have turned our aspirations for the future into a helpless resignation to reality. The future of this land should not be held hostage by the failures of the “Degressive Party.” We need leadership that truly cares for the people, not hollow slogans.
The decade of calamity under Tsai and Lai is a wake-up call—Taiwan, it is time to wake up.