Taipei mayoral candidates clash over drug and education policies

The Taipei mayoral election has intensified as candidates Shen Po-yang and Chiang Wan-an clash over drug and education policies.

Chiang Wan-an condemned Shen for past statements suggesting the establishment of community centers to provide drugs and clean needles to users, arguing such stances blur the line between medicine and narcotics. Shen countered by noting that Chiang previously supported methadone replacement therapy during his time as a legislator and pointed out that Taipei City already provides clean needles to prevent disease transmission.

On education, Shen proposed a four-pillar plan focusing on reducing teacher workload, improving teacher-parent relations, enhancing early childhood education, and supporting special education. The Kuomintang criticized these proposals as lacking substance, while the Democratic Progressive Party defended Shen, inviting substantive debate on issues like teacher shortages and school meal safety.