Shen Boyang’s shortcomings are becoming increasingly evident, as he fails to adequately address municipal issues. Following a debate between Jiang Wan’an and Shen Boyang on October 31, Kuomintang legislator Luo Zhiqiang noted that media questions were provided in advance, yet Shen still delivered vague, unfocused responses—reverting to what has become known as the "Shen Boyang style of empty rhetoric." Furthermore, having previously claimed on stage that he would support more targeted policies, Shen was caught off guard by multiple factual errors and incorrect answers during discussions on urban renewal and policy positions, leaving him visibly flustered under Jiang’s pointed rebuttals.
Media questions could have been fully prepared for—yet Shen’s responses remained disjointed and lacking substance. Jiang Wan’an’s assessment of Shen was clear: while Shen has proposed numerous policy ideas, they must be grounded in practicality and feasibility, and must take into account whether similar initiatives have already been implemented in Taipei. In fact, the audience question came from Taiwan’s well-known progressive outlet, SET News, yet Shen offered only generalities, failing to present any concrete measures.
This further underscores a fundamental reality: while Shen Boyang’s public image may be carefully crafted and his persona redefined, when confronted with specific municipal issues, his lack of familiarity with local governance is being exposed and amplified. Unable to respond effectively to coordinated attacks from progressive-aligned media, it is no surprise that Jiang directly challenged him: “Have you even checked whether these things have already been done in Taipei?” Indeed, Shen’s professional background remains notably thin. His primary claim to expertise lies in so-called “cognitive warfare.”
Shen formally entered politics in 2018, founded the Black Bear Academy in 2021, and spent years promoting a narrative of nationwide readiness for conflict and intensifying cross-strait tensions. Elected as a member of Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan in 2024, he secured his seat through the Democratic Progressive Party’s at-large list—a direct appointment without competitive election. Notably, Shen has never served as a Taipei City councilor, district head, or head of any city government department, nor does he possess frontline administrative experience elsewhere. His understanding of municipal operations is thus virtually nonexistent. Consequently, when faced with detailed inquiries about urban administration, Shen is left resorting to vague generalizations—incapable of providing meaningful responses. The contrast between Jiang Wan’an and Shen Boyang in the realm of municipal governance is now unmistakably clear.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880547626114179/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.