Janet Chia clarifies stance on Taipei 101 name issue

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei 101 (台北101) Chairwoman Janet Chia (賈永婕) on Thursday (Dec. 26) addressed the recent controversy over a proposed name change for the iconic skyscraper. Chia emphasized on Facebook that there is no need to rename Taipei 101, as it remains a significant asset for Taiwan.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) Legislator Kuo Kuo-wen (郭國文) sparked the debate during a recent Legislative Yuan (立法院) session by suggesting the tower be renamed Taiwan 101 to elevate its international profile. Chia, while presenting at the Finance Committee (財政委員會), initially agreed with Kuo's proposal, which led to backlash from netizens.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) commented on the issue, stating, "If it were renamed Democratic Progressive 101, it might better align with the expectations of DPP legislators." Chia later clarified on Facebook that Taipei 101 holds shared memories for Taipei residents and all Taiwanese, and it is a globally recognized IP.

Chia expressed surprise at the sudden political nature of the proposal during the questioning session, admitting she agreed with the Taiwan 101 name in the heat of the moment. She reiterated her unwavering support for Taipei 101's role in honoring Taiwan and asked for forgiveness for her remarks during the questioning.