Jiang Wanan dug out Shen Boyang's old articles to manipulate drug policy and caused controversy

◎ Chen Zhifang

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wanan uncovered Shen Boyang's 2014 article discussing drug policy and criticized it on social media.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wanan retrieved Shen Boyang's article discussing drug policy 12 years ago, insisting on "providing drug users with drugs and clean needles", and compressed a policy discussion involving decriminalization, harm reduction, addiction treatment and comparison with foreign systems into a "pro-drug" impression that is most likely to incite fear.

Shen Boyang's writings at that time can certainly be tested, and whether his propositions are suitable for Taiwan can also be debated. But when scholars study public policy, they must compare different systems, including those that are unpopular or even controversial. The value of research lies in explaining complex issues clearly; the most convenient way for political operations is to cut complex issues into one sentence and then turn the sentence into a label.

What’s even more intriguing is that when the outside world found out that Jiang Wanan himself had supported methadone and clean needles in the past, he immediately emphasized that he had “always supported it” and then insisted on Shen Boyang’s article from 12 years ago, “There is no word methadon.” The problem is, having those three words written or not is no substitute for real policy debate. Among the various harm reduction models Shen Boyang talked about back then, which ones are feasible and which ones are not feasible are questions worthy of a mayor’s answer. If Jiang Wanan is really familiar with harm reduction policies, he should be able to talk about systems, effects, and boundaries, instead of just sticking to three words and repeatedly creating doubts.

When Jiang Wanan becomes a legislator in 2021, he proposes a proposal to support strengthening methadone replacement treatment and treatment resources.

And this is not just Jiang Wanan’s speech. Wang Hongwei and other five blue committee members joined Chiang Wanan's campaign speech team, and Wang immediately joined the offensive with words such as "toxic flow". From exfiltration of old articles to campaign members' efforts to amplify the "very toxic" impression, policy discussions have gradually faded away, but the campaign label has become more and more firmly attached.

Kuomintang legislator Wang Hongwei called the ocean current a "poisonous current" and launched a political offensive.

What’s even more ridiculous is that after hundreds of thousands of comments poured in, the Chiang camp did not answer questions about the policy first, but instead used “funds are burning” to insinuate the cyber army. If there is indeed a program to wash the page, evidence should be provided; but if the policy is questioned, the opponent's motives will be questioned first, and the public opinion will be unfavorable, and then the identity of the person who left the message will be questioned. When answering questions becomes defining enemies, how much room is left for public debate?

Of course, the anti-drug campaign can be harsh, and elections can be fierce; but if public policy is reduced to censorship, labeling, and creating doubts, it is not just the quality of discussion that is truly compromised. Shen Boyang's article from 12 years ago at least showed the attitude of a researcher trying to sort out different systems, compare the pros and cons of policies, and deal with controversial issues head-on. In contrast, Jiang Wanan turned policy controversies into an attack weapon, which may gain him a temporary reputation, but also made political integrity his most expensive price.