Chiang Wan-an faces scrutiny over son's exchange program and lineage claims

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an is facing scrutiny regarding his son, Chiang Te-li, who was selected for a government-funded international exchange student program. Critics have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and whether the family adhered to the Act on Recusal of Public Servants Due to Conflicts of Interest.

Taipei City officials, including the Director of the Government Ethics Office and the Director of the Legal Affairs Bureau, have stated that the Mayor did not participate in the approval, review, or subsidy allocation processes for the program, thus not violating the law. Chiang has since announced that his son will decline the 75,000 TWD subsidy.

However, the Agency Against Corruption clarified that regardless of whether a public official participates in the review process, the related person has an obligation to proactively disclose their relationship under the law. Additionally, Chiang has faced renewed calls for DNA testing to verify his lineage, a topic he dismissed as a recurring issue during election cycles. Other commentators have criticized the Mayor for involving his family in political campaigning and media coverage.