Taipei candidate accuses mayor of spreading COVID-19 vaccine rumors

Taipei mayoral candidate Shen Po-yang has accused incumbent Mayor Chiang Wan-an of fabricating information regarding vaccine procurement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Shen asserted that Chiang's recent statements, alleging government obstruction of private sector efforts to acquire vaccines, are baseless and part of a pattern of deception.

“

One lie requires thousands upon thousands of lies to cover it up.

"One lie requires thousands upon thousands of lies to cover it up," Shen declared during a joint press conference with city councilor Chang Wen-chieh. He specifically addressed Chiang's claim that the government had "made things difficult" for various organizations and corporations seeking to purchase vaccines, calling it "outrageous."

“

This is really outrageous! One lie requires thousands upon thousands of lies to cover it up.

Shen, a member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), argued that Chiang, then a legislator, was aware of the government's difficult position during the pandemic. He suggested Chiang chose to spread rumors for political gain, benefiting from the situation rather than supporting public health efforts. Shen urged Chiang to reveal his true reasons for allegedly spreading misinformation, stating that such explanations are necessary, especially given the hard work of frontline medical personnel and the subsequent court rulings that identified some rumors as false.

“

The whole thing is very simple: the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation was the victim, and then-Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung was protecting the victim, so he intervened.