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Taipei City Department Becomes Campaign Office? Official Rebuttal to Mayoral Candidate Sparks Controversy

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Taipei's Public Works Department issued a lengthy statement refuting Taipei mayoral candidate Steve Chang's criticism of the "Taipei Grand Walk" project.
  • Political commentator Chou Hsuan criticized the department's response, questioning if the city government had become an election campaign office for Mayor Chiang Wan-an.
  • Chou Hsuan also highlighted that the statement was released on a Sunday morning, a time when public servants are typically off, raising further questions about the timing and purpose of the announcement.

Taipei's Public Works Department issued a rare, lengthy statement early Sunday morning to counter criticism from Taipei mayoral candidate Steve Chang regarding the "Taipei Grand Walk" project. The department's response, titled "Slamming Steve Chang's 'Skyline' Theory, Public Works Department Mocks Outsider: Don't Daydream, Don't Negate Grassroots Efforts," directly attacked Chang's remarks.

Slamming Steve Chang's 'Skyline' Theory, Public Works Department Mocks Outsider: Don't Daydream, Don't Negate Grassroots Efforts

— Taipei Public Works DepartmentThe title of the department's statement refuting criticism from mayoral candidate Steve Chang.

The department argued that Chang's concept of a "skyline" was mere "imagination close to the sky." It asserted that true mountain lovers would oppose such an amateurish idea, explaining that the "Grand Taipei Skyline" is a "hardcore exploration route" spanning both Taipei and New Taipei, traversing difficult terrain. Building a dedicated trail there, the department stated, would severely damage nature, deeming Chang's suggestion "impossible and inadvisable." The statement accused Chang of speaking "on paper" and not having "seriously researched" the issue.

Political commentator Chou Hsuan criticized the Public Works Department's unusual move, particularly its use of combative language typically found in election campaigns. He questioned whether the city government's departments had become an election headquarters for Mayor Chiang Wan-an. Chou Hsuan pointed out that the department's thousand-word statement was released at 6:48 AM on a Sunday, a time when most public servants are off duty.

Taipei City Government now renamed 'Chiang Wan-an Campaign Headquarters'?

— Chou HsuanPolitical commentator Chou Hsuan's sarcastic question about the city government's actions.

Chou Hsuan lamented the long-standing issue of "brain drain" from Taipei's civil service, noting that the public works system is among the most understaffed departments. He questioned whether Mayor Chiang Wan-an had ordered junior public servants to release this statement on a holiday morning to attack Steve Chang. Chou Hsuan provocatively asked if the Taipei City Government had been renamed "Chiang Wan-an Campaign Headquarters," with Yin Wei serving as the campaign manager.

Don't daydream, don't negate grassroots efforts

— Taipei Public Works DepartmentPart of the department's statement criticizing Steve Chang's proposals.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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