Jiang Wanan’s team abused city government resources for election propaganda, and civil servants were dissatisfied with the violation of administrative neutrality.

◎ Burnt-faced Spoonbill

In the past, during the Ke Municipal Government, no matter how much we argued with election opponents and clashed with the central government, we could at least maintain the most basic administrative boundaries. If there is any political attack or defense or verbal exchanges, Ko Wenzhe or spokesperson Chen Zhihan will respond in person.

But during the Chiang Wanan period, the spokesperson team used to use very crude means to interfere with news operations; until this year's election, they blatantly used the Taipei City Government as Chiang Wanan's campaign headquarters.

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During this year’s election, Chiang Wanan’s team blatantly used the Taipei City Government as Chiang Wanan’s campaign headquarters. Pictured is the Taipei City Government. (File photo)

In my more than ten years of experience in journalism, I have never seen such language in a bureau press release that is full of malice, vulgarity, and even violates the principle of administrative neutrality.

Of course, there is no way these words could have been written by a civil servant. Jiang Wanan's spokesperson team will "retouch" the explanatory notes originally prepared by the bureau, inserting poor terms full of political attacks into the text and titles, and then throw them back to the bureau, requiring all units to publish such poor drafts full of "Yin Wei grammar" under their names.

Of course, the various bureaus and offices of the Beijing Municipal Government can refute the rumors and provide explanations, but they must recognize their own identities. Since you are receiving a public salary and using public resources and platforms, you should discuss the matter based on the facts and at least maintain the most basic administrative neutrality. As for other election offenses and defenses and political language, this is something that Jiang Wanan and his staff should face on their own.

There are many civil servants who are dissatisfied with this approach, but there are some provincial and flattering chiefs who accept all the bad manuscripts thrown by the spokesperson, undermine their own official motto, and even shamelessly teach the grassroots in return.

For example, You Zhuping, who was airborne as sports director, did not take this seriously, and even said in person, "Because the city government is one." And education director Tang Zhimin, who has been in the education field all his life and has enjoyed a reputation during both the Ko and Chiang dynasties, is now being issued a press release by the Education Bureau using politically offensive and defensive words such as "rollover." Don't you think this is humiliating civil servants and undermining the professionalism and dignity of the entire education sector?

Jiang Wanan's team requires all units to publish this kind of bad manuscript full of "Yin Wei grammar". Sports Director You Zhuping even said personally, "Because the city government is one." The picture shows You Zhuping. (Provided by Taipei City Government)

If Jiang Wanan and his team of spokespersons want to fight an election, they should quickly set up their own campaign team, spend more time understanding the municipal government, and stand up to attack and defend openly. Don't always hide behind civil servants and make the North City Government a mess.

Using administrative machinery as a campaign tool and forcing civil servants to carry sedan chairs for politicians is a trampling on administrative neutrality and the dignity of public service.

(The author is a former Beijing City Government employee and writer)