Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an defends Songshan Airport relocation plan

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an has addressed criticism regarding his proposal to relocate Songshan Airport, denying that the policy is a move to gain political advantage for the 2026 elections. Despite recent polling showing 41% of citizens oppose the move while 31% support it, Chiang maintains that the decision is a responsible step to support Taipei's development in the AI era, particularly following Nvidia's presence in the North Taipei Science Park.

Chiang stated that the relocation has been discussed by various mayoral candidates for years and emphasized his role as the first sitting mayor to formally propose it. He expressed a commitment to communicating with citizens and coordinating with the central government to resolve potential difficulties.

However, the plan has faced scrutiny in the City Council. Critics have questioned discrepancies in the proposed land area, noting a mismatch between the 300-hectare figure presented by Chiang and the actual 260-hectare footprint of the airport. There are also ongoing disputes regarding whether the plan involves the demolition of residential communities near Sanyuan Junior High School and Binjiang Street.