Controversy over Taipei mayor’s son’s exchange-student place sparks calls to report him to US authorities

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s confirmation that his eldest son holds US citizenship has widened a controversy over the boy’s place in a publicly funded exchange program. The student, who was admitted to Taipei’s prestigious Jianguo High School, plans to take a year off and study in the United States and Canada as an exchange student.

Taipei’s education department selects students from ninth grade through the second year of high school for one-year overseas exchanges. Only 25 students were chosen for programs in the United States and Canada for the 2026 academic year, making the places highly competitive. The program includes scholarships, prompting questions about whether a mayor’s child should have applied through a project run by the city government.

Lawyer Lin Chih-chun questioned whether the selection raised concerns about favoritism and the appearance of a conflict of interest. He said the process relies on document review and an English interview rather than an examination, and argued that the mayor’s son was applying to a program overseen by agencies under his father’s administration. “If Wan-an used his own money to send his child abroad, nobody could criticize him. If he used Taipei city government resources, people naturally have the right to comment,” Lin said.

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If Wan-an used his own money to send his child abroad, nobody could criticize him. If he used Taipei city government resources, people naturally have the right to comment.

The citizenship disclosure created a second dispute over visa eligibility. Under the city’s rules, a selected student may lose the place if unable to obtain a US student visa such as the J-1 exchange visa. Critics noted that US citizens do not need, and cannot obtain, a J-1 visa. They questioned whether Chiang Te-li applied as a Taiwanese student while declaring his US citizenship, or whether he plans to enter the United States with a US passport. In the latter case, critics argue, he would not fit the program’s stated target group.

Online users posted a US State Department contact address for reporting alleged J-1 fraud and called for mass complaints. Some claimed the controversy could affect the family’s future green-card eligibility, while others accused the mayor’s son of taking a publicly funded place. The allegations and their possible consequences remain framed as questions raised by critics, not established findings.

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The selection process uses document review and an English interview. It is not an examination.