Taipei mayor’s son’s exchange placement sparks conflict-of-interest debate; writer praises Lin Yu-chang’s caution

The selection of Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s son for a one-year exchange program in the United States and Canada has prompted accusations that the process failed to avoid a conflict of interest.

Writer Tsao Ming-tsung said Chiang Te-li, who holds U.S. citizenship, was chosen through the Taipei Education Department’s international exchange student program. He said the decision had led people to question whether the mayor’s son had received special treatment.

Tsao also cited a separate controversy involving a NT$14 million promotional contract for Taichung’s Hot Pot and Grill Festival. China Television won the contract, although its chairwoman, Lu Hsiu-fang, is the sister of Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen. That case also drew questions about conflict-of-interest safeguards.

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People in high positions should have a broader perspective.

He contrasted those controversies with the conduct of former Keelung Mayor Lin Yu-chang. Lin’s sister, painter Lin Wan-tzu, has said that when her brother took office, he told relatives not to lobby for favors or make introductions. He also specifically instructed her not to participate in Keelung city government tenders.

When Lin Wan-tzu and Tsao held a launch for their Taiwanese folk picture book, "The Keelung Ghost Festival," at Keelung’s Yangming Oceanic Culture and Art Museum in 2015, Lin Yu-chang did not attend. Tsao said he later realized the mayor had stayed away to avoid creating the appearance of favoritism. Lin Wan-tzu added that her brother would not even allow city departments to hire her to draw, or let her carry out unpaid public-service work for them.

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Do not even mention tenders. Even if a Keelung city government department asked me to draw something, that would not be allowed. Unpaid public service would not be allowed either.