Taiwan Politician's Aide Allegedly Elbowed; Rival Camp Demands Apology

A political dispute has erupted in Banqiao, Taiwan, following an alleged physical altercation at a campaign event. Jiang Yi-chen, director of the campaign office for New Taipei mayoral candidate Li Ssu-chuan, accused a supporter of legislator Su Chiao-hui of elbowing Yeh Yu-lan's female assistant and attempting to attack Yeh Yu-lan himself.

Jiang Yi-chen posted on Facebook on July 26, demanding that Su Chiao-hui publicly condemn the violence and apologize to the assistant and the public. The incident reportedly occurred while Yeh Yu-lan was accompanying Li Ssu-chuan during a street canvassing event at the Hsinglung Market.

Supporters of both political camps engaged in heated exchanges online following Jiang Yi-chen's post. Some criticized the alleged perpetrator, while others questioned whether the incident was staged. Jiang Yi-chen emphasized that while political differences can be debated, violence is unacceptable. She also noted the irony of the incident occurring on the one-year anniversary of a major recall vote, suggesting that the political animosity fueled by the Democratic Progressive Party continues to fester.

Jiang Yi-chen urged Su Chiao-hui to clarify her stance on the alleged assault, stating that one cannot rally supporters for political action and then disavow responsibility when they resort to violence. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions and confrontational nature of political campaigning in the region.