Taiwanese elections: KMT candidate dismisses DPP's 'secure five, gain five' target, citing public concern over toxic oil

Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has set an ambitious target for the year-end mayoral elections, aiming to "secure five and gain five" seats. The party has identified New Taipei City as a key battleground where it hopes to unseat the incumbent Kuomintang (KMT).

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Citizens are more concerned about the source of the toxic oil problem.

However, KMT New Taipei mayoral candidate Hou Yu-ih has brushed off the DPP's electoral projections. He stated that citizens are currently preoccupied with more pressing concerns, particularly the source of recent toxic oil contamination. Hou urged the DPP to shift its focus from electoral maneuvering to addressing public health and food safety issues, emphasizing that people are more interested in understanding how the toxic oil originated and whether it was a problem with the source or the manufacturing process.

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I don't comment on the DPP's assessment, but all citizens are more concerned about where the toxicity in the oil comes from.

The controversy escalated when Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an attended a campaign event for DPP's New Taipei mayoral candidate Su Chiao-hui. A reported altercation occurred between Pan and a reporter asking about the toxic oil issue. Hou Yu-ih commented on the incident, suggesting that reporters were seeking answers for the public and that Pan Men-an should not have reacted with such anger. He called for central government intervention to clarify the origin of the toxic oil for the public.

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Reporters are asking questions for the citizens, hoping to know where the toxic oil comes from.