New Taipei Candidate Li Sichuan Clarifies Campaign Stance Amidst Criticism

New Taipei City mayoral candidate Li Sichuan met with the Taiwan People's Party legislative caucus on August 21 to discuss major construction projects in the city. Accompanied by KMT legislator Li Yen-hsiu and New Taipei City councilor Chiang Yi-chen, Li engaged with party members, including chairman Huang Kuo-chang.

During the meeting, Li addressed criticism from Democratic Progressive Party legislator Lin Chu-yin, who had questioned his past statements about not establishing a campaign headquarters or fundraising. Li clarified that these remarks were made in the context of a previous potential run for Kaohsiung mayor. He explained that he had told the KMT at the time that he would be willing to run if he could do so without a campaign headquarters, billboards, or fundraising, as he believed his past performance and policy proposals could stand on their own.

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Questioning a candidate should not involve taking statements out of context.

Li emphasized that questioning a candidate should not involve taking statements out of context. He reiterated his desire to change Taiwan's election culture, moving away from negativity and misinformation. Li also touched upon his policy proposals for New Taipei, including the "Rail Transit 123" plan and undergrounding the Shilin Station, as well as reforms for urban renewal regulations. He stated that he would announce his campaign headquarters director in due course and acknowledged recent polls showing him narrowly trailing his opponent, Su Chiao-hui, by 2%. Li stressed the importance of engaging directly with New Taipei's 4.04 million citizens.

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This was the mindset when discussing the Kaohsiung by-election, and it's what I hope to change about Taiwan's election culture, to avoid constant smearing and rumor-mongering.