Tsai Ing-wen: I Rarely Talk About One Thing After Leaving Office

Former Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen broke her usual silence today with a strong message. She said there is one topic she almost never brings up since stepping down: asking the public to trust the government again through “collective self-discipline.”

Speaking at an event in Taipei, Tsai looked back on her eight years in office. She admitted that trust between people and the government dropped a lot during that time. “After I left office, there’s really only one thing I rarely talk about,” she said. “But today I want to say it clearly: we have to win back society’s trust together, and the key is collective self-discipline.”

Tsai pointed to hot issues like food safety scandals, vaccine fights during COVID, and online fake news that made people angry and split. “When everyone only thinks about their own side, trust breaks fast,” she added. She hopes both the government and citizens can follow rules better and check facts before sharing.

Many saw her words as a soft push toward the current DPP government led by President Lai Ching-te, which is facing low approval numbers. Others took it as advice for all of Taiwan as political fights heat up before local elections next year.

Netizens had mixed reactions. Some praised her for “speaking the truth even after leaving power,” while others said “it’s easy to talk about self-discipline when you’re no longer in charge.”

At 69, Tsai has kept a low profile since May 2024, focusing on writing and small talks. Today’s speech is one of the clearest times she has commented on Taiwan’s current mood.