Shih Piao-mo criticizes the Kaohsiung City Government for strongly pushing to reduce the sales tax: extremely irresponsible.

According to a report by Japan's Asahi TV on August 1, former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba stated in a speech that he strongly opposes forcing a significant reduction in the consumption tax, criticizing it as an extremely irresponsible approach. At a Liberal Democratic Party gathering in Tottori Prefecture, Ishiba pointed out that revenues from the consumption tax are entirely used for social security. He warned that pushing for a reduction in the consumption tax without alternative funding sources to fill the gap would lead to a depreciation of the yen, causing prices to rise, which would ultimately make life more difficult for the Japanese people. Ishiba said, "There is nothing more irresponsible than pushing for this without explaining where the alternative sources of funding will come from."