Taipei City Government defends actions amid criticism over political messaging and civil servant workload

Taipei City Government issued a response late Monday, stating it does not use false information to discredit colleagues and does not need to issue statements for clarification. This came after political commentator Chou Hsuan criticized Mayor Chiang Wan-an, labeling him "incompetent" and claiming the city government's actions are exhausting its staff.

The exchange highlights ongoing friction between the city government and opposition candidate Shen Po-yang, particularly concerning the "Taipei Grand Traverse" initiative. The city government's departments have frequently responded to Shen's remarks outside of regular working hours, prompting Shen to propose policies aimed at reducing workplace stress within the city government.

Chou Hsuan specifically took issue with Taipei City Government Deputy Spokesperson Tsai Wan-ying's statement, deeming it "arrogant." He argued that the city government fails to recognize its recent mistakes, asserting that civil servants are meant to serve citizens, not Mayor Chiang's election campaign. Chou pointed to the city government's practice of issuing statements on Sunday mornings to criticize Shen as evidence of this misplaced priority.

Chou further accused the city government of engaging in "cognitive warfare" by labeling Shen's proposals as false information. He drew a parallel to the city's earlier response to concerns about rat infestations, where the government initially denied the problem was serious, only to later implement pest control measures. Chou suggested that the city government itself is the primary source of "cognitive warfare," and that Mayor Chiang is its victim, while the public can clearly see who is pressuring civil servants to support his election campaign.

The controversy also touches upon the city's handling of public health issues. Chou referenced data from the Taipei Department of Environmental Protection indicating an upward trend in rat sightings in the first half of the year. He also noted the prevalence of videos showing rats in various parts of the city on social media. Despite initially downplaying the issue, the city government has since increased disinfection and cleaning efforts.