Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an Criticized for Inaccurate Responses During Council Questioning

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an has come under fire following a resurfaced clip of a city council questioning session where his responses to queries about US tariffs were criticized as unprepared and reliant on aides. The incident, which occurred last year, involved Chiang being asked by councilor Miao Po-ya about the accuracy of a statement made by legislator Chiang Wan-an regarding tariffs on Taiwanese exports to the US. Initially, Chiang struggled to provide a clear answer, stating that Taiwan's 32% tariff rate was not the highest globally. His staff quickly provided him with updated information, which he then relayed, incorrectly stating Taiwan was the ninth highest. Miao Po-ya swiftly corrected him, pointing out the correct figure was 23rd and criticizing his reliance on prepared notes, especially for a basic question. The situation worsened when Chiang was unable to identify the top U.S. product imported by Taiwan, a question he also fumbled despite his staff's attempts to assist. This exchange has fueled public criticism, with netizens dubbing him "Chiang the Teleprompter" and questioning his competence. Ahead of his re-election bid, the incident has been widely shared, with many expressing disappointment and concern over the mayor's perceived lack of knowledge and preparedness on key issues, leading to calls for him to be more informed and less reliant on his staff.

“

Such a simple question, and you need 10 seconds to answer it. Is Taiwan the 4th globally? Weren't you prepared?