Chiang Wan-an’s Online Attention Nearly Doubles Weng Hsiao-ling’s as 2028 Presidential Image Takes a Hit

The controversy surrounding Kuomintang lawmaker Weng Hsiao-ling had barely subsided when attention shifted sharply to Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an. Media commentator Wu Ching-yi said Chiang had quickly overtaken Weng in online attention, but not because of his record in city government.

Searches linked to Chiang’s surge focused on his son’s nationality, a green card, high school, a leave of absence and an international exchange-student program. Wu said the issues had created a sense of privilege that was more damaging than the earlier dispute over Weng’s proposal to cut the Presidential Office’s budget for gift boxes produced by sheltered workshops. Kuomintang members responded to that controversy by raising money to place orders themselves.

Wu cited social-media monitoring showing 11,733 mentions of Chiang, compared with 9,364 for Shen Po-yang. Negative sentiment accounted for 71.8% of Chiang-related posts, against 40.1% for Shen. On Threads, the two men drew similar discussion volumes, with 5,534 posts about Chiang and 5,571 about Shen, but the negative share reached 76.5% for Chiang and 33.7% for Shen.

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The 2028 presidential image has already been scraped away by one layer.

Wu said Shen was being discussed as a new political figure, with arguments focused largely on whether he could offer a different vision for the city. Chiang, as the incumbent mayor, faced a different standard: each news story was being judged against his record in office. In Wu’s view, the immediate question was not necessarily whether Chiang would lose the 2026 mayoral election, but whether his broader political appeal was losing value.

Chiang had previously been seen as a young, urban and relatively non-confrontational Kuomintang figure whom local candidates wanted beside them on campaign stages. Wu warned that if appearances with Chiang instead prompted questions about his son, exchange studies, green cards and leave from school, his image as a campaign asset could become a liability. A mayor may rely on incumbency and a core base, she said, but a presidential candidate needs broad national appeal and low voter resistance.

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The sun could become a shadow that candidates must bear together.