Taipei Mayor Criticized for 'Answering A with B' in City Council

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an is facing sharp criticism from writer Zhao Xiaohui, who accuses him of repeatedly engaging in a practice of "answering A with B" during city council sessions. Zhao characterizes Chiang's approach as one of "counter-questioning, refusing to admit fault, and confronting head-on," suggesting his primary concern is not the suffering of children or the failings of the city government, but rather how issues might affect his personal standing and approval ratings.

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Chiang Wan-an's 'Chiang doesn't listen,' 'answering A with B,' is the real dictatorship!

Zhao argues that Chiang's alleged arrogance and refusal to engage directly with council members' inquiries represent a fundamental disrespect for democratic oversight. She points to specific instances, such as Chiang deflecting a question about wasted public funds on a dog smoking area by bringing up the Democratic Progressive Party's handling of a digital ID project. In another case, when questioned about a child protection mechanism failure, Chiang allegedly shifted the focus to social workers' professional assessments rather than addressing systemic loopholes.

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Chiang Wan-an cares not about how much suffering the children endured, or where the city government system broke down, but rather 'Will this matter affect me?' 'Will my approval rating drop?'

"Chiang Wan-an's 'Chiang doesn't listen,' 'answering A with B,' is the real dictatorship!" Zhao exclaimed on Facebook. She contends that while Chiang might weather these council sessions due to political backing and a perceived "hatred dividend" against the DPP, public discontent is steadily growing. Zhao believes this accumulated resentment will eventually force Chiang to pay a heavy price, potentially mirroring the political trajectories of former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je or legislator Huang Kuo-chang.

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The core of democracy is that the executive power must be accountable to the legislative power.

Zhao further criticizes Chiang's performance in council, suggesting he relies on prepared talking points rather than genuine engagement. She describes the city council under his leadership not as a forum for oversight and accountability, but as a "personal show stage where one can finish work after smoothly reading public relations scripts." This perceived prioritization of political calculation over human compassion, especially in the face of tragic events like the abuse of a young girl, is seen by Zhao as a profound mockery of democratic mechanisms.

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You can't say that frontline social workers' professional assessments are wrong.