TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安), a rising political star from Taiwan's main opposition party, on Tuesday (July 1) publicly challenged the central government to improve its communication and strategic response to three critical economic issues: electricity supply stability, impending tariff changes, and recent currency volatility. The 45-year-old mayor, speaking at his regular municipal press briefing, highlighted growing public anxiety over how upcoming international tariff negotiations could affect household expenses, urging national authorities to prioritize securing optimal economic conditions for Taiwan's 23 million residents.
With the United States set to conclude its reciprocal tariff grace period next Wednesday, potentially affecting billions in Taiwanese exports, Mayor Chiang insisted that Taiwan's central government must unveil comprehensive economic strategies that directly address mounting public anxiety about cost-of-living pressures. The mayor's comments expanded beyond economic matters when reporters questioned him about recent internal conflicts within the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨), Taiwan's ruling party. Chiang offered a pointed historical critique, asserting that Taiwan "should not forget the contributions of its predecessors" and that the president "should not erase the Republic of China's (ROC, 中華民國) history" — a reference to Taiwan's official name and a politically charged topic in Taiwan's complex relationship with its past.
The press conference took a domestic political turn when journalists asked Mayor Chiang about ongoing recall efforts targeting five legislators from the Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨), Taiwan's oldest political party and the mayor's own affiliation. Chiang defended his party colleagues, emphasizing that their legislative performance "is evident" and highlighting their collaboration with his administration on municipal initiatives. The mayor also addressed recent legal developments in eastern Taiwan, where prosecutors have searched KMT offices in Hualien County as part of an investigation. Without directly criticizing the judicial action, Chiang delivered a carefully worded response suggesting that "the public will scrutinize whether the judiciary is fair and just"—a statement that appeared to question the timing and motivation behind the investigation. ◼