The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) has opened an investigation into influencer Holger Chen’s (陳之漢) controversial remarks calling for the decapitation of President William Lai (賴清德) during a live stream on Sunday. The incident has triggered concerns about abuse of freedom of speech, as well as concerns about endangering national security and the safety of Taiwan’s elected leader.
Chen is a gym influencer also known as Kuan Chang (館長). Once a supporter of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) speaking out vocally against Beijing, Chen has become an active backer of the Taiwan People’s Party, making a political about-face to denounce the Taiwanese government while fawning over communist China.