Chiayi Mayor and City Council Candidates Sign "Pledge of Transparency in Local Public Officials' Exchanges with China"

With the countdown to the grassroots elections at the end of the year, the Taiwan Library Cultural Association, a non-governmental organization, launched a signing event for the "Transparency Commitment for Local Public Officials to China". A total of six Chiayi mayor and city council candidates signed today. Zheng Shumian, founding chairman of the Taiwan Illustrations Association, said that local politics is the first line of defense for Taiwan's democracy. Mayors and city councilors are closest to local communities, personal networks and public resources, and they should be clear about their responsibilities when facing contact with Chinese officials.

Zheng Naiwen, the current chairman of the Taiwan Illustrations Association, said that after launching the signing event, the association contacted all the candidates running for mayor and city councilors, including Chen Kaihuang, the non-party candidate for mayor, and five city councilor candidates, Chen Yuejin and Lin Shihan of the Obasan Alliance, non-party members Li Mingcan, Wang Hao and Lin Weixuan of the Democratic Progressive Party to sign a response.

The Taiwan Illustration Association calls on candidates who have not yet signed to sign or sign a written statement of position before 5 p.m. on October 6. At that time, a list of non-responders will be released for public inspection.

This morning, the six signatory candidates attended a press conference held by Taitu. Chen Kaihuang proposed three main commitments: "not betray Taiwan, not betray Chiayi City, and not betray yourself." Chen Kaihuang said that Taiwan is a sovereign and independent country under the definition of international law, and cross-strait exchanges must be based on the principles of sovereignty and reciprocity and be jointly decided by civil society.

Chen Yuejin said that citizens have the right to know who invites, receives and funds public officials to go to China. Lin Shihan said that political parties should take responsibility for regulating candidates and called on mayoral candidates from all political parties to express their positive stance. Li Mingcan said that only in order to maintain Taiwan's independence can Taiwan's independence be maintained, public officials should also be accountable to citizens.

Zheng Shumian emphasized that Taiwanese elections should be decided by the Taiwanese people themselves, and public opinion representatives should be loyal to the citizens of Chiayi and cannot become a channel for Chinese official resources to intervene in Taiwan’s elections and influence Taiwan’s democracy. There has been a case in Chiayi City where city councilor Lin Xuefeng, who once represented the Kuomintang in the election, was invited to go to an intermediary election. Information exchanged with China can no longer be blurred.