Legislator Ong Hsiao-Ling from the Kuomintang (KMT) stirred controversy during an interview with the Japanese media outlet Nikkei Asia when she stated, "We are Chinese" and questioned, "Isn't the mainland a democratic country?" Her remarks have reignited discussions across various platforms. KMT's Taoyuan City Council member Huang Jing-Ping expressed his exasperation, urging her to speak less to avoid exacerbating the upcoming recall movement.

In the interview, Ong criticized the current ruling party, claiming that the government has significantly reduced interactions with China, making Taiwan isolated. She reiterated that "peaceful unification across the strait is our ultimate goal," which shocked veteran Japanese media figure Masaru Yabuki, who argued it would be very detrimental to Taiwan.

Yabuki condemned Ong's views as damaging to Taiwan's international image, asserting that “China under Communist Party rule is not a democratic country,” and urged others to be cautious of such assertions. He further expressed concern over Ong's claim that Taiwan should not increase its defense budget, asserting that such views would heighten Taiwan's risks and undermine international support.