Lanying Festival "Poison Brand" Encirclement and Suppression of Shen Boyang Watch 6 historical famous scenes at once
Quick Look
- Shen Boyang, the Taipei mayoral candidate of the Democratic Progressive Party, was rounded up by the blue camp because of his old criminal articles discussing drug harm reduction 12 years ago.
- Looking back at the six controversial cases in which green camp politicians were repeatedly accused on the eve of the election, including the Yuchang case, epidemic prevention procurement, Hsinchu baseball stadium, Su Zhifen case, Tsai Ing-wen’s paper and Pan Meng’an’s housing rental incident, most of the cases were concluded with no evidence, no prosecution or acquittal after judicial investigation.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
In Taiwan's electoral culture, politicians often use past controversies or accusations as fodder for attacks by their opponents on the eve of an election. This article reviews six major accusations against DPP politicians at different times and explains their judicial conclusions.
The 2026 local elections are heating up. Shen Boyang, the Taipei mayoral candidate of the Democratic Progressive Party, discussed old criminology articles on drug harm reduction 12 years ago. Recently, he was surrounded and suppressed by Taipei Mayor Chiang Wanan and Lan Ying, making him the focus of attack and defense. Looking back at previous elections, it is common for green camp politicians to be accused of controversies before elections, including the Yuchang case, epidemic prevention procurement, Hsinchu baseball stadium, Su Zhifen case, former President Tsai Ing-wen’s papers, and Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Meng’an’s renting of a house. Six cases have gone through investigation and litigation. In the end, most cases ended with no evidence, no prosecution, innocence, or the whistleblower was awarded compensation.
The "Yuchang Case" broke out on the eve of the 2012 general election. Tsai Ing-wen was accused by the Kuomintang. During her term as Vice President of the Executive Yuan, she led the National Development Fund's investment in Yuchang Biotech, which was involved in violating the revolving door clause and self-enrichment. The special investigation team concluded the investigation in August 2012 and determined that Tsai Ing-wen's appointment as chairman, family funds and State Development Fund investment were all found to be free of criminal facts. Liu Yiru, then chairman of the Council for Economic Development and Development, published an official document that caused controversy due to misplacement of dates. The North Court of First Instance awarded a compensation of 2 million yuan. After the case was appealed, the two parties reached a settlement in the High Court in 2017.
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During the COVID-19 epidemic, Tsai Ing-wen, then Executive President Su Tseng-chang, and Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shizhong were accused of corruption, profiteering and even murder due to vaccine procurement and epidemic prevention measures. The Taipei District Prosecutor's Office accepted 62 reporting cases. After reviewing the documents, in April 2023, it was determined that no specific criminal evidence was found and all were signed.
Construction defects occurred at the Hsinchu Municipal Baseball Stadium in 2022, and former mayor Lin Zhijian was accused of being involved in profiteering. The Hsinchu District Prosecutor's Office has been investigating for nearly four years. In August this year, it was not prosecuted because the charges were insufficient. The High Prosecutor's Office dismissed the case in October and then reviewed and confirmed it. The prosecutors also found no illegal money flow. Former Yunlin County Magistrate Su Zhifen was accused of collecting 5 million yuan in bribes from environmental protection workers in 2008 and requested 15 years in prison. The case was tried by the court, and both the first and second trials found him not guilty. In January 2013, the Supreme Court dismissed the prosecutor's appeal in accordance with the Prompt Trial Law, and the case was found not guilty.
In addition, the controversy over Tsai Ing-wen’s doctoral dissertation has spread to the 2020 election. Although the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) confirmed that he obtained his degree in 1984, media personality Peng Wenzheng still filed a civil lawsuit to "confirm that the doctoral thesis does not exist." After being rejected by the North Court of first instance and the High Court, the Supreme Court rejected Peng Wenzheng's appeal in September this year, and the entire case was confirmed.
During the 2024 general election, Pan Meng'an, then director-general of Lai Ching-te's campaign, was questioned by KMT legislator Wang Hongwei about living in a mansion and being "supported by a consortium." The High Court's first-instance judgment in September this year pointed out that although Wang Hongwei's initial assessment was based on verification, after Pan presented the lease and remittance records, Wang still accused the information of falsification and failed to perform reasonable verification obligations. It ordered compensation of 300,000 yuan and the post must be removed. It can still be appealed.
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What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The controversy over Shen Boyang’s illegal articles will continue to ferment before the election and become the main attack point of the blue camp.
Likely · Within weeks
Similar to past cases in which green camp figures have been accused, this dispute may also end with no evidence or judicial inconclusion.
Possible · Within months
Open Questions
- How will Shen Boyang's criminal history affect his campaign for mayor of Taipei?
- Will the blue camp continue to dig up the past controversies of green camp figures as an electoral offensive?
- Are the judicial authorities' trial standards for similar charges consistent?
