Journalist Chang Ya-chin defends English interview with Shen Po-yang

Journalist Chang Ya-chin has defended her decision to conduct an all-English interview with Taipei mayoral candidate Shen Po-yang, following online criticism that the format was an unnecessary display of language skills. Chang responded to social media comments suggesting the interview should have been in Mandarin to reach a broader audience, stating that the purpose was not an English exam but a responsibility to let Taiwan's voice be heard internationally.

Chang noted that her program, ‘Ya-chin Looks at the World’, launched its English version in March 2020—predating the Chinese version—to counter international marginalization of Taiwan. She highlighted that the interview included a 20-minute English segment and a 90-minute Mandarin segment, recorded in a single take.

The interview covers topics such as ocean currents, Shen's inclusion on a Chinese blacklist, and the geopolitical significance of the upcoming APEC summit involving leaders from the United States and China.