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Lawrence Chung

The great grandson of the late Kuomintang leader Chiang Kai-shek has been selected as the party’s candidate to become the next mayor of Taipei.
But Wayne Chiang Wan-an, a KMT legislator in Taiwan’s parliament, still faces a long battle and will need to beat some formidable foes.
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KMT chairman Eric Chu Li-luan described Chiang – who made public his mayoral ambition in February – as the party’s undisputed candidate.
“Wan-an is a rising star today and tomorrow,” Chu said. “He will start a new chapter in Taipei.”
Chu said he also believed Chiang’s influence could help other KMT candidates standing in November’s local elections.
In response, Chiang said he would do his best “to bring the blue sky back to Taipei”, referring to the KMT emblem of a white sun in a blue sky.
The KMT used to control Taipei, where voting patterns should favour the so-called pan-blue camp which supports a conciliatory policy towards mainland China and opposes independence of the island.
However, it lost the city to independent candidate, Ko Wen-je, a doctor who had support from the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party in 2014. Ko was also re-elected in 2018, with the help of the mainland-friendly People First Party. Ko later founded the Taiwan People’s Party.


The US-educated Chiang, who previously worked as a business lawyer in the United States, returned to Taiwan in 2013. He entered politics in 2016 by winning a seat in the legislature for the KMT representing a Taipei constituency and was re-elected in a landslide victory in 2020.
The son of former foreign minister John Chiang and grandson of Chiang Kai-shek’s son and successor Chiang Ching-kuo, Wayne Chiang has proved a popular legislature with a clean, hard-working public image.
“Taipei has long been a city I am proud of … But in recent years, Taipei has been losing its population, and its citizens have been seeing their incomes cut, infrastructure stagnate and international visibility reduce. This is the time to make an important decision about the future of Taipei,” Chiang said after accepting his nomination on Wednesday.
Addressing the latest spike in Covid-19 cases, Chiang criticised the authorities for failing to prepare well ahead of time, resulting in a record number of domestic infections and deaths.

This year the island has recorded over 1.6 million domestic infections with 931 deaths about half of which were in Taipei.
“What we need is not political rhetoric, but someone who can roll up his sleeves and get down to work,” he said.
Despite his popularity, it will not be an easy battle for Chiang as he is expected to face such strong competitors as Health Minister Chen Shih-chung and incumbent deputy Taipei mayor Huang Shan-shan.
“Chiang most likely will face Chen Shih-chung, who has enjoyed high popularity in the past two years for leading Taiwan in containing the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Max Lo, a researcher at Tamkang University’s Centre for Advanced Technology in New Taipei.
“Huang, who has created an impressive image in Taipei for helping the city tackle the pandemic and is familiar with Taipei city affairs, also has a relatively fair chance of capturing the city’s top post.”
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The latest opinion survey released by the NOWnews online network on Wednesday showed Chiang was well ahead of Chen with 51.35 per cent of support from Taipei respondents compared with Chen’s 10.84 per cent, and Huang’s 16.22 per cent.
But another survey by Apple Online showed 48.8 per cent of the respondents from across Taiwan supported Chen, with 38.5 per cent backing Chiang and 10 per cent Huang.
The ruling Democratic Progressive Party has yet to name its nominee for the Taipei mayor. However, a party source said President Tsai Ing-wen, who doubles as DPP chairwoman, had opted for Chen and was likely to announce his candidacy next month after the latest outbreak subsides.

Meanwhile, Huang is yet to announce her intentions. “Taking care of our citizens is my job and my responsibility. Taipei has had more than 220,000 Covid-19 cases, with 8,000 to 9,000 cases every day,” she said when asked on Wednesday whether she would run.
“From dawn to dusk we are focusing on the pandemic, not on the local elections.”


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Taiwan

Taiwan’s Kuomintang keeps it in the family by choosing Chiang Kai-shek’s great grandson to run for Taipei mayor

Wayne Chiang Wan-an has been selected as the KMT candidate for mayor of Taipei. Photo: CNA

Health minister Chen Shih-chung is expected to challenge Chiang for the position. Photo: EPA-EFE

Deputy Taipei mayor Huang Shan-shan is seen as a possible contender. Photo: CNA

Taiwan’s KMT opposition party reopens US office to have a greater voice in Washington

The KMT is keen to make its voice heard in Washington. Photo: Reuters 

KMT chairman Eric Chu will meet US officials in Washington during his visit. Photo: dpa

Taiwan’s new Kuomintang leader Eric Chu has one year to prove himself, say analysts

Eric Chu Li-luan speaks to the media after winning the chairmanship election of Taiwan’s main opposition Kuomintang party on September 25. Photo: ZUMA Press Wire via dpa

Johnny Chiang, the incumbent chairman of Taiwan's main opposition Kuomintang Party (KMT) speaks to members of the media after conceding the chairmanship election, in Taipei, Taiwan, September 25, 2021. REUTERS/Ann Wang

epaselect epa09486796 Kuomintang party chairmanship candidate Chang Ya-chung, casts his vote during the Kuomintang (KMT) chairmanship election in Taipei, Taiwan, 25 September 2021. Taiwan's main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), is electing the 11th chairman on Saturday, since the position was created in 1975. EPA-EFE/RITCHIE B. TONGO

Chinese President Xi Jinping calls situation with Taiwan ‘complex and grim’ in letter to new KMT chairman Eric Chu

Eric Chu and supporters celebrate after his victory in the KMT leadership election. Photo: EPA-EFE

Eric Chu (L), chairman of Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang (KMT) party, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a visit to the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 4, 2015.  Xi held talks with the visiting leader of Taiwan's ruling party on May 4, state media reported, the first such meeting for seven years.     CHINA OUT  -  AFP PHOTO

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Wayne Chiang has pledged to bring the KMT’s ‘blue skies’ back to the island’s capital, where he is the early front runner
However, political observers say he will still face a formidable challenge from the ruling DPP’s Chen Shih-chung and the city’s deputy mayor Huang Shan-shan



Wayne Chiang has pledged to bring the KMT’s ‘blue skies’ back to the island’s capital, where he is the early front runner.
