Taipei: Ko Wen-je, the former chairman of the opposition Taiwan People's Party (TPP) and ex-mayor of Taipei, visited lawmakers from various parties to advocate for an amendment to the Assisted Reproduction Act. He emphasized the importance of the bill, which aims to aid reproduction, and urged political parties to support its passage.
According to Focus Taiwan, Ko's visit to the Legislative Yuan marks his first public appearance since being released on NT$70 million (US$2.3 million) bail in September 2025. He had been detained since September 2024 amid allegations of accepting bribes connected to the Core Pacific City development project in 2022 and embezzling political donations during his 2024 presidential campaign.
Ko addressed reporters, stating that the amendment to the Assisted Reproduction Act is beneficial for the public and should not be a point of contention between political parties. He called for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) to back the amendment, highlighting that it is intended for the public's welfare and lacks any ideological agenda.
The proposed amendment, unveiled by the DPP Cabinet in December, seeks to extend access to assisted reproduction services to single women and married lesbian couples. This initiative, drafted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, would grant these groups access to assisted reproductive technology (ART). Meanwhile, TPP lawmaker Chen Gao-tzu has been advocating for the inclusion of a surrogate mother mechanism, a proposal facing opposition from the DPP.
Ko's involvement also aims to garner support for Chen Gao-tzu, a TPP legislator at large, who will soon step down after a two-year term according to party rules. In light of the political standoff, Ko has been active in seeking bipartisan support for Chen's amendment.
The political stalemate prompted Ko to criticize President Lai Ching-te, suggesting that as the country's leader, he should adopt a more conciliatory approach to resolve the impasse. Ko's remarks came after he completed his preparation for oral arguments in his bribery case, with a verdict expected on March 26.