Taipei Mayoral Race Seen as Victory for Democracy

Taipei's mayoral election on November 28 is being framed by the ruling party's candidate as a democratic triumph despite pressure from China, according to officials. Puma Shen, a member of the Democratic Progressive Party, is running for mayor for the first time in three decades.

Shen, an academic-turned-lawmaker, has faced repeated criticism from Beijing, which has opened a police investigation into him. China views Taiwan as its own territory, a claim rejected by Taipei, and the issue is not directly on the ballot for the local elections.

Shen stated that China is unhappy with the idea of Taiwanese freely choosing their leaders. Some polls suggest Shen is within striking distance of his opponent, incumbent mayor Chiang Wan-an, or even ahead of him.

Shen said that even if Chiang were elected, it would still be a setback for China because it would prove democracy works in Taiwan and is not influenced by Beijing. He emphasized that his election would be an even greater demonstration of this principle.

Last year, Chinese authorities in Chongqing initiated a probe into Shen over separatism charges. While China has no legal authority in Taiwan, it has sanctioned officials it dislikes, including Shen and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim. The Chongqing government did not comment on the status of the investigation.

Shen also mentioned that China's refusal to engage with President Lai Ching-te, whom it labels a 'separatist,' has left the Taipei-Shanghai city forum as the main remaining high-level government interaction between the two sides. Shen said he would continue the forum if there were no political conditions attached.

In addition to his political campaign, Shen is known for his work on Chinese disinformation and co-founding the Kuma Academy, which prepares citizens for potential attacks from Beijing. His recent social media campaign has drawn large crowds, with his campaign dubbed the 'Ocean Current.'