Chiang Wan-an’s “low-key” shelter workshop visit backfires online after he pledges NT$300,000

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an said he kept his visit to a sheltered workshop low-key because he did not want a large entourage to disrupt the facility. He also said he personally spent NT$300,000 on purchases to support disadvantaged people.

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Low-key to the point that all the media know about it. Really low-key, huh?

The visit came after controversy over Mid-Autumn Festival gift-box procurement for sheltered workshops. The issue followed joint cuts by the Kuomintang and Taiwan People’s Party to the Presidential Office’s special expenses. Kuomintang Taipei city councillor Chin Hui-chu had previously asked Chiang whether he would donate NT$200,000 to buy the gift boxes.

Chiang’s earlier response disappointed Chin, who said he had failed to answer the question directly. As criticism grew, blue-leaning media circulated photographs of Chiang’s appearance at the workshop. Political worker Chou Hsuan shared a screenshot of the coverage on social media and referred to the mayor being “caught” there.

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Publicity stunt number one.

Commenters challenged the description of the visit as low-key. Some said a genuinely private purchase could have been arranged through city government staff, while others argued that appearing at the workshop and then receiving media coverage looked like a publicity stunt. Several also said Chiang should simply have accepted Chin’s original proposal.

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When Hui-chu asked you at the time, you should have agreed. You could not even answer an easy question, and then you put on this whole performance.