Taipei Mayor's 'Kaohsiung' answer to smoking zone query sparks political jab

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an's recent response to a city councilor's inquiry about the cost of a new smoking zone has ignited a political spat, with critics accusing him of evading the issue. When questioned about the trial-and-error costs exceeding one million New Taiwan dollars for a grated smoking zone, Chiang cited a Kaohsiung project costing 500 million New Taiwan dollars.

“

Perhaps Mayor Chiang was tired yesterday and his eyes were a bit blurry, mistaking the questioner for Chen Chi-mai. Or perhaps he wants to run for Kaohsiung city councilor. Why else would he answer a question about Taipei with something about Kaohsiung? This is no longer 'answering A by talking about B,' it's 'asking T and answering K.'

This deflection drew a sharp rebuke from Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai, who called it "the worst way to answer A by talking about B and dragging others in." The Taipei City government retorted by accusing Chen of avoiding his own governance issues.

Adding to the criticism, Shen Po-yang, a legislator and candidate for Taipei mayor, quipped that Chiang might be tired and mistaking the questioner for Chen Chi-mai, or perhaps he is considering running for Kaohsiung city councilor. Shen satirized the mayor's tactic as "asking T and answering K" (referring to Taipei and Kaohsiung).

“

The worst way to respond is to answer A by talking about B and dragging others in.

Shen further stated that Chiang consistently avoids addressing questions about city issues and regulations, such as the standards and planning for smoking zones. Instead, he accused the mayor of shifting focus, treating issues as political maneuvers, or blaming the central government. Shen believes the public clearly sees this pattern of evasion.

“

For some time now, everyone has seen clearly that Mayor Chiang does not answer questions or address systems directly. Yesterday, many people were asking about smoking zones, and it was the same. Many councilors asked long ago about how to set standards and plan them. Chiang does not care, he always shifts the focus, or treats it as political maneuvering, or turns it into a question for the central government. The people see it very clearly.