Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) on Monday was interviewed by media personality and politician Jaw Shaw-kong (趙少康). What could have been an opportunity for Chiang to explain his policies and address controversies was an exchange in which he would not directly answer questions and what he did say undermined his policy agenda.
When Jaw asked why Chiang’s election campaign was in such a difficult position, Chiang talked about infrastructure projects. When asked whether he would run for president in 2028, he emphasized his commitment to his job as mayor. When asked about the controversy surrounding negative-pressure smoking rooms, he spoke about his vision of a smoke-free city.
Chiang’s answers were not necessarily without substance, but how much of a positive response did they garner?
The value of an interview lies not in how many achievements are recited, but in providing clear answers.
The most glaring example was Chiang’s response to whether he would run for president in 2028. When Jaw pressed him on whether running for president would conflict with doing a good job as mayor, Chiang said that there was “no conflict,” yet continued to emphasize his work as mayor. He said that running for president in 2028 was not part of his current plans, but that did not amount to a commitment not to run.
With a second mayoral term that would overlap with the 2028 election, voters are less concerned with whether he has political ambitions than whether he would serve out the full four-year term if re-elected next month.
As Jaw had already pinpointed the core issue, Chiang could have clarified whether he would accept a nomination from the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and whether he would commit to completing his term as mayor.
Instead, by emphasizing he would do well as mayor, he addressed his immediate responsibilities without clarifying his plans and their consequences.
Other areas of concern included how Chiang addressed municipal policies. He said that negative-pressure smoking rooms have been used 530,000 times, but that figure does not directly demonstrate a reduction in secondhand smoke exposure, nor can it replace an assessment of their locations, effectiveness and operating costs.
On his controversial proposal to relocate Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport), Chiang said that “if we don’t start today, we will never succeed.”
When a mayor proposes a major project involving multiple ministries, local governments and even national security, the vision might be ambitious, but administrative responsibility must be concrete. Chiang still needs to explain the central government’s responsibilities, as well as the implications for national defense, transportation to outlying islands, medical evacuations and the capacity of alternative airports.
For projects involving multiple ministries, local governments and national security, voters are entitled to demand not only determination, but verifiable timelines, costs and supporting measures.
Emphasizing achievements is reasonable, but mayors command substantial administrative resources and Chiang has governed for nearly four years. The media and voters should press him on questions that have not been fully answered.
Municipal governance should be judged by results and data, policies should be scrutinized in terms of responsibilities, funding and implementation plans, and Chiang’s own plans for 2028 should also be clearly explained. A mature leader must not only know what he wants to say, but also how to answer the public’s questions.
Voters have the right to know the real answers.
Elliot Yao is a reviewer.
Translated by Kyra Gustavsen