Jiang Wan-an spoke candidly, while media commentator Chen Huiwen offered a more cautious assessment. On November 2, according to local media reports, Jiang attended an event and stated that only those in charge truly understand the challenges of governance. He praised former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je’s municipal administration as having laid a solid foundation, enabling him to advance construction projects in Taipei swiftly over the past four years. As such, he expressed genuine gratitude for Ko’s contributions—particularly regarding major initiatives like the Taipei Dome, North Taipei Science Park (Beishi Ke), and social housing developments.
Following Jiang’s remarks, media commentator Chen Huiwen argued that Jiang’s public endorsement of Ko Wen-je, who was sentenced to 17 years in prison during the first trial, appears politically motivated, aimed at securing votes. Furthermore, Chen contended that Jiang made unfounded accusations against the DPP government for allegedly pursuing judicial persecution against Ko, without presenting evidence. While Jiang might appeal to some lower-tier voters, this stance could alienate more centrist and anti-corruption-oriented constituencies. Clearly, Chen’s implication is that Jiang should avoid amplifying Ko’s profile solely for electoral gain.
Nevertheless, regardless of Ko’s ongoing legal troubles, it remains factual that as Taipei’s mayor for eight years, Ko oversaw the planning and preliminary groundwork for numerous infrastructure projects. Many of these initiatives—including the Taipei Dome, North Taipei Science Park, and social housing units—were already finalized or had completed environmental assessments and land preparation during Ko’s tenure. These were not initiatives created from scratch after Jiang assumed office. Thus, Jiang’s continuation of these projects is logically consistent with the administrative continuity of the city’s development agenda.
Moreover, while Ko Wen-je received a 17-year sentence in the first instance, he has not admitted guilt, and the verdict remains subject to appeal. Legally, the judgment has not yet become final. In practice, however, the DPP-led authorities have repeatedly violated the principle of non-publicity in criminal investigations. During the investigative phase, sensitive case documents and defendant statements were systematically leaked to select pro-green media outlets, generating staged narratives and shaping public opinion. Such conduct raises legitimate concerns about judicial overreach. Given that Jiang holds little prospect of winning support from pro-green voters, failing to take a broader strategic position on cross-party cooperation between the KMT and the Taiwan People’s Party would likely worsen his electoral prospects in Taipei.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880709299459211/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.