Taipei Mayoral Race: Chiang and Shen Clash Over Typhoon Preparedness Games

The Taipei mayoral election has intensified following recent typhoon activity, leading to a political dispute between incumbent Chiang Wan-an and Democratic Progressive Party candidate Shen Po-yang. Chiang’s campaign launched a game titled “Typhoon Battle: Sick Tree Removal Squad” to educate citizens on disaster prevention and the risks of falling trees.

Shen Po-yang criticized the initiative, labeling it “anti-human nature” and accusing the campaign of using “intimidation” by suggesting that failure to remove certain trees would lead to accidents. In response, campaign consultants argued that the game is a professional tool for public safety education rather than a political tactic.

Data from Google Trends indicates that Shen has maintained a higher search interest than Chiang over the past week, despite Chiang receiving significant media coverage due to his administrative duties during the typhoon. Meanwhile, Chiang has faced scrutiny over his disaster relief image, with debates arising from his interactions with sanitation workers and his handling of post-storm recovery efforts.