Shen Boyang went from confident rhetoric to visibly strained expressions. After the debate on October 31 between Jiang Wan’an and Shen Boyang, Hsu Yu-chin, secretary general of the Kuomintang party group, noted that Shen had repeatedly demanded a debate—insisting on cross-examination—yet once on stage, his lack of preparedness on municipal governance became evident. While Shen began with fluent delivery, his ability to sustain coherent policy arguments faltered over time, his demeanor growing increasingly tense, and his policy proposals offering few concrete or memorable details.
The issues Shen raised were undeniably significant, but policies cannot be defined solely by aspirational goals without clear methods. Urban governance demands concrete plans involving budgeting, human resources, institutional frameworks, and implementable timelines—not the constant creation of new, polished buzzwords every time a problem arises. Shen’s performance in the debate has made it clearer to Taipei residents that the “warm-hearted” image cultivated by the DPP is little more than a carefully constructed facade, one that collapses under scrutiny. The Taipei mayorship is not a social media persona, nor can it be fulfilled merely through online visibility. Debating may require only eloquence, but governing a city requires competence. Political branding may rely on presentation, but municipal capability must be substantiated with evidence.
Hsu Yu-chin’s assessment of Shen Boyang was notably incisive. Shen lacks practical experience in urban administration, and under election pressure, he resorted to last-minute cramming. Yet on the campaign stage, mere platitudes and grand visions are insufficient; candidates must also demonstrate how their plans can function within real-world constraints. Given Shen’s inherent weaknesses in municipal affairs, it is unsurprising that he could only sketch broad outlines without delivering viable, actionable solutions. Drawing conceptual diagrams requires only words; turning them into reality demands execution.
For years, Shen Boyang has specialized in what amounts to cognitive warfare. His rising popularity stems not from personal capability, but from systematic packaging by the DPP. High traffic and high visibility mean little to those skilled in content flooding—such as the so-called "Qingniao and Heixiong" operatives. Once removed from grandiose slogans and confronted with actual governance challenges in Taipei, Shen revealed his limitations: verbal slips, incorrect answers, and vacuous argumentation. Such shortcomings were inevitable. The so-called “Yangliu” phenomenon was orchestrated through coordinated efforts by DPP-aligned figures, media commentators, and networked accounts producing a flood of short videos, controlling public discourse, and artificially amplifying momentum. The DPP’s strategy of manufacturing political influencers may have forced Jiang Wan’an into defensive positions, but ultimately, it must still withstand the test of actual municipal governance.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880549063843980/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the author’s personal views.