Taiwan mayoral race heats up over drug policy and debate rules

Political tensions are rising in Taiwan as the mayoral elections approach, centered on drug policy debates and candidate conduct. Minister of Health and Welfare Shi Chung-liang has clarified that the government does not support cannabis legalization and will not implement programs to provide drugs directly within communities, despite calls from legislators for feasibility studies on harm reduction measures.

The drug issue has become a focal point of political attacks. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) spokesperson Wu Cheng accused the Kuomintang (KMT) of using drug-related rhetoric to smear social workers and smear candidate Shen Po-yang. Conversely, KMT supporters and officials have criticized the DPP's stance on harm reduction.

In Taipei, candidates are also debating election formats. Shen Po-yang has called for debates to include cross-examination to ensure policy depth, while incumbent Chiang Wan-an has expressed openness to coordination. Additionally, Shen's recent popularity led to rumors of him appearing in a television drama, though he ultimately declined the offer due to a busy campaign schedule. The Central Election Commission noted it would review any potential violations of election laws regarding candidate appearances on broadcast media.