TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei City Mayor Chiang Wan-an reaffirmed his commitment to urban development on Thursday (Sept. 14) in response to his recognition by TIME magazine.
TIME magazine named Chiang one of the most influential rising figures worldwide in their annual TIME100 Next list. In response to the accolade, he responded, "Thank you. I am just fulfilling the role as a mayor."
Chaing was placed in the leadership category, making him the third Taiwanese politician to make the TIME100 Next, following Kuomintang (KMT) former chairman, Chiang Chi-chan, and Forward Alliance founder, Enoch Wu.
Chiang Wan-an, the current youngest-ever mayor of Taipei, is recognized for his hemispheric approach to cross-strait issues and his promise to inject new blood into KMT, an age-old party regarded as one of the richest and oldest in Asia, but often faces criticism for its perceived pro-China stance, TIME Magazine wrote.
Taipei's mayor of just over a year, a former legislator with seven years of experience, is known to have ambitious plans for urban development. He is also speculated as a potential candidate for the next presidential election, mainly as the KMT aims to appeal to younger generations, as per TIME.