New Taipei mayoral race heats up over film center funding

The second phase of the National Film and Audiovisual Center in New Taipei City's Xinzhuang副都心 (Fuduxin) district has become a focal point in the mayoral election campaign, pitting the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) Su Chiao-hui against the Kuomintang's (KMT) Lee Chien-lung.

Lee Chien-lung, the KMT candidate, has publicly stated that if the project remains stalled, he will take it over himself. This statement was made in response to Su Chiao-hui's announcement that she had successfully secured central government subsidies for the project. Lee's assertion implies skepticism about Su's ability to finalize the funding and move the project forward.

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If the National Film and Audiovisual Center's second phase continues to be left there and not done, then I will take it back and do it myself.

However, Su's campaign office, through spokesperson Ma Heng-heng Yi, strongly refuted Lee's claims. They argued that Lee's proposal to take over the project could jeopardize the NT$8.3 billion in central government subsidies that Su and fellow legislator Wu Ping-cheng had worked to secure. The campaign office emphasized that the current plan, which has resolved long-standing issues regarding additional parking spaces, aims to transform the center into a "Triple Crown Museum" for the Golden Horse, Golden Melody, and Golden Bell Awards, alongside ample parking and green spaces.

Su's office stressed that electing her as mayor would ensure collaboration between central and local governments to establish Xinzhuang as a significant hub for film and television culture in New Taipei City. The dispute highlights the intense competition and differing approaches to local development projects in the upcoming election.

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Is he going to give up the central government's NT$8.3 billion subsidy and do it all himself?