Shen Rongqin commented on Jiang Wanan’s performance in the air debate: Four years of experience as a mayor is rare

Taipei mayoral candidate Shen Boyang of the Democratic Progressive Party stated that he wanted to debate the current mayor Chiang Wanan. Non-party city councilor Xu Lixin recently visited Shen Boyang and asked Chiang Wanan the same question during the municipal general inquiry today (11th), allowing the two sides to "debate from a distance." In this regard, Shen Rongqin, an associate professor at York University in Canada, said that the difference in Jiang Wanan's answer is very surprising. It does not reflect the experience of the mayor for four years. If it were not for the starting point of changing his surname and the second generation of politics (or the fourth generation of politics), it would be difficult to reach the height of the mayor.

Shen Rongqin said in a Facebook PO post that in one-on-one elections, the leader usually refuses to debate, reduces the number of debates, or requests strict restrictions on the format of debates. This is a rational choice to reduce risks. As the leader, it is normal for Jiang Wanan to refuse to debate with Shen Boyang. Moreover, Jiang Wanan requested that the debate be held in a public forum and did not want cross-examination arrangements. In fact, it is not difficult to understand that refusing to debate also avoids another risk: the leader can limit the issues within familiar scope, and does not have to face new battlefields opened by challengers and lose points. What Jiang Wanan needs is to consolidate his base and supporters, so he will be more conservative about the new front.

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Shen Rongqin pointed out that policymakers usually have some baggage and avoid direct debates with challengers, so that they do not have to compete with opponents on the battlefield where they are weaker. However, this hedging strategy also has its price, that is, it is difficult to show the policymaker’s familiarity with municipal administration. Taipei Municipal Government covers almost everything in citizens’ lives, and its huge details make it difficult for newcomers to quickly grasp the know-how. For example, when Ke Wenzhe ran for mayor for the first time, although he showed his superiority over challengers Lian Shengwen and former mayor Hao Longbin at every turn, even Ke Wenzhe, who was obviously overconfident, later admitted that he was too naive during the campaign and made rhetoric, but in fact it was just a trick because he was not familiar with municipal administration. He admitted that after he became the mayor of Taipei, even if he worked very hard, it would take him two years to get familiar with the municipal administration. The first two years were "just messing around" and he was in the stage of paying tuition.

Shen Rongqin continued that after four years as mayor, Jiang Wanan’s understanding of the specific details of municipal administration must be better than that of his challenger Shen Boyang. Without a head-to-head confrontation between the two, it would be difficult to show Jiang Wanan's advantage in familiarity with municipal affairs, which is beyond Shen Boyang's ability. However, Taipei City Councilor Xu Lixin's question today broke this impression.

Shen Rongqin added that Xu Lixin is a non-party member and is close to the People's Party, so there is no obvious blue or green color on this matter. At the Taipei City Council today, he asked Jiang Wanan that there have been frequent incidents of child abuse recently. Apart from punishing him afterwards, what else can be done? Because he had given the question to Jiang Wanan in advance and allowed his staff to assist, and it was a hot topic in the news, Jiang Wanan should be able to answer it easily and concretely.

Shen Rongqin analyzed that after Jiang Wanan answered, Xu Lixin actually broadcast the result of asking Shen Boyang the same question on the spot. Xu Lixin said that since Jiang Wanan refused to debate, it would be better for him to take the opportunity of questioning to give the two people the opportunity to "debate remotely". Strictly speaking, the two did not cross-examine each other on this issue, and it was not a real debate. However, the result was still unexpected. Jiang Wanan's standard answer lacked focus and did not show his understanding of this issue. Instead, Shen Boyang talked eloquently and pointed out specific directions. They were as different as clouds and mud, making it difficult for others to distinguish who was the mayor for four years.

Shen Rongqin bluntly said that the difference in Jiang Wanan's answer was very surprising. It did not reflect the experience of the mayor for four years. If it were not for the halo of changing his surname and the starting point of the second generation (or fourth generation) of the government, it would be difficult to reach the level of the mayor. Xu Lixin's questioning turned him into a child who pointed out that the king had no clothes.