TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) declared his identity as both Taiwanese and a Republic of China citizen Monday (Dec. 2) during a heated city council exchange with Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) Councilor Hung Chien-yi (洪健益). Chiang defended his political stance, emphasizing his commitment to Taiwan's constitution, sovereignty, democracy, and rule of law amid criticism from the ruling party.
Councilor Hung challenged Chiang to clarify whether he identifies as a citizen of the People's Republic of China or the Republic of China. The councilor criticized China's influence and urged the mayor to confront political issues directly rather than remain silent. Chiang deflected, suggesting Hung should address concerns to the central DPP authorities, Taiwan's ruling party leadership.
Chiang stated that he is Taiwanese and a citizen of the Republic of China, adding that the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC, 陸委會), Taiwan's top China policy body, welcomes the Shanghai-Taipei forum and recognizes its outcimes. The mayor told Hung to raise any disagreements with DPP leadership if he opposes the cross-strait forum's outcomes, deflecting the councilor's pointed challenge to his national identity.
Hung criticized the Shanghai-Taipei City Forum, an annual cross-strait exchange platform, as non-transparent, unsafe, and unbeneficial to Taiwan's interests. The councilor cited that former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) left over NT$1 million (around US$32,258) of the 2022 forum's budget unaccounted for, raising transparency concerns about the event's financial management.
Mayor Chiang told media before the council session that the Taipei-Shanghai Forum is tentatively scheduled for late December, with administrative details under negotiation. China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO, 國台辦, Beijing's agency handling Taiwan relations) on Thursday (Nov. 26) affirmed ongoing Shanghai-Taipei communication, expressing support for cross-strait exchanges to enhance mutual benefits. ◼