Free Lectures" No need to apologize for Jiang Wanan's "irrationality"?

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wanan asked Democratic Progressive Party legislator Tsai Chi-chang to apologize to all Taipei citizens for using the word "mentally retarded" on the grounds that the dignity of citizens cannot be harmed. However, on October 9, Chiang Wanan himself described voters in Taiwan and even Taipei as "irrational," causing controversy before responding with a clarification. It also involves negative comments from voters, why are the two handling methods different?

Tsai Chi-chang criticized Taipei Mayor Chiang Wanan's political performance, "If all that is left is fresh milk, do we think Taipei citizens are retarded?" This caused dissatisfaction among Chiang Wanan's camp. The picture shows Cai Qichang. (File photo)

On November 1, Cai Qichang gave a speech for Shen Boyang, the Taipei mayoral candidate of the Democratic Progressive Party. He questioned Jiang Wanan's "fresh milk" political performance and asked: "If you are the mayor of a capital city and your political views and achievements are only fresh milk, do you think Taipei citizens are mentally retarded?" The wording is sharp, but it is a rhetorical question directed at the mayor's use of political achievements to win recognition. Jiang Wanan regarded it as a verbal injury to the citizens and asked Cai Qichang to apologize.

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Chiang Wanan accepted an exclusive interview on October 9, reviewing the confrontation during the general recall in 2025, and said: "I have never felt that voters in Taiwan, or even Taipei, would become so irrational." This was his direct evaluation of the behavior of voters at that time. Jiang Wanan later clarified, emphasizing that he respects the judgment of voters and must be humble before public opinion.

Jiang Wanan could explain the original meaning through clarification, but Cai Qichang's rhetorical question could only be understood in the most unfavorable literal way? Jiang Wanan's talk about general recall can be claimed to be describing the social atmosphere. Cai Qichang questioned the mayor's political performance. Why didn't he even identify the target of his administration? Hold others accountable for their words, and your own words should be scrutinized as well.

Jiang Wanan emphasized that Taipei's political achievements are not limited to fresh milk, and detailed the difficulties in implementing policies. This is exactly the question that the mayor should answer: How effective is the fresh milk policy, and what other municipal achievements are worth testing by citizens? When the mayor turns political criticism into a controversy calling for an apology, the policy statement that citizens originally wanted to hear takes a back seat.

Jiang Wanan emphasized that Taipei's political achievements are not limited to fresh milk, and detailed the difficulties in implementing policies. The picture shows Jiang Wanan. (File photo)

Jiang Wanan said that Taipei citizens are very smart. Citizens also remember how the mayor himself evaluated voters just 24 days ago. You must apologize for others' rhetorical questions, and your own direct statements can clarify that if this ruler is to be used to defend the dignity of citizens, it should first measure the person holding the ruler.

(The author is a retired person)