Ruiri Photonics Corporation had planned to build a large substation of solar panels in Xiecuo Village, Kouhu Township, Yunlin County, in Taiwan. However, it allegedly failed to properly communicated with local villagers. It was only in 2023, when the construction was underway, that local villagers became aware of the project. As a result, they organised a self-help group to protest and block the construction, and set up a guard station outside the construction site to monitor activities on a shift basis. The local villagers also repeatedly went to the county government, county council, and the Legislative Yuan to share their concerns over the lack of consultations. Yunlin County Mayor Zhang Lishan repeatedly claimed that the company had deceived the local government and violated local government regulations.

Between 2023 and 2024, Xiecuo Village residents filed separate administrative lawsuits against the Yunlin County Government and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, claiming that Ruizhi Photonics had built the solar panel substation in the village without conducting a legally required explanatory meeting, resulting in the residents being unaware of the construction, and that the company had breached regulations by incorrectly filling in the application information. However, during the litigation process, the Yunlin County Government and the Ministry of Economic Affairs denied any procedural irregularities.

In the lawsuit where the Ministry of Economic Affairs is the defendant, the local court ruled that the villagers lacked legal standing to to challenge the substation’s construction. The villagers filed an appeal in April 2025.

The lawsuit in which the Yunlin County Government is the defendant is pending in the local court.

In addition, prosecutors found that Rui Ri had bribed Yunlin County Speaker Huang Kai in 2024 in order to obtain licences for photovoltaic sites and substations. Li Junxing, the Director of Construction of Yunlin County, admitted to leaking the information under review. Huang Kai, the Speaker of Yunlin County, pleaded guilty and paid back the proceeds of NT$14.8 million. However, despite his admission, Li Junxing, the Director of the Yunlin County Construction Department, was transferred to the position of Acting Director of Taxation, and then promoted to the Director of Taxation of Yunlin County in 2025.

The community is still struggling to stop the project and has firmly rejected any offers of financial compensation.