Ko Wen-je Pepper Spray Incident in Taichung: Mayor Lu Says It's a Police Discipline Issue
Taiwan People's Party founder Ko Wen-je was sprayed with pepper spray during a street campaign in Taichung, which turned out to be an accidental discharge by a Taichung City Police Bureau precinct chief. Mayor Lu Shiow-yen stated it's a police discipline issue and she understands the bureau's disciplinary actions.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 21, 2026 at 11:50
- 🔍 Collected: April 21, 2026 at 12:01 (11 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 21, 2026 at 12:08 (6 min after Collected)
Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen said on April 21 that the incident where Taiwan People's Party founder Ko Wen-je was sprayed with pepper spray during a street campaign is not just a misunderstanding but a police discipline issue, and she understands the disciplinary actions taken by the Taichung City Police Bureau.
Ko Wen-je was sprayed with pepper spray on the evening of April 17 while accompanying TPP Taichung City Councilor candidate Liu Qin-yu on a campaign trail at Fengjia Night Market. Ko Wen-je and several volunteers experienced discomfort and coughing. After days of investigation, the Taichung City Police Bureau found that it was Sixth Precinct Chief Chou Chun-ming who sprayed pepper spray towards the ground due to a malfunctioning device. Chou Chun-ming was subsequently demoted and reprimanded.
Lu Shiow-yen, speaking to reporters before a city government meeting on the morning of April 21, stated that this is not only an unbelievable incident but also a police discipline issue. She pointed out that the precinct chief did not honestly explain the situation at the first or even second time, which led the police to mobilize a large number of personnel, equipment, and surveillance cameras, conducting a thorough cross-comparison of all available surveillance footage and interviews in the Fengjia business district.
The police investigation revealed that Chou Chun-ming was testing the pepper spray device because it was malfunctioning. Lu Shiow-yen stated that as a police officer, one should have professional knowledge of the equipment they use and should not be testing it there. She added that if it's broken, they should be able to handle it, which is also a test of emergency response and leadership capabilities. She understands the disciplinary actions taken by the City Police Bureau. The case has been transferred for prosecution, and the prosecutor is currently investigating. Due to the hierarchical system of the police, personnel appointments and disciplinary actions are led by the National Police Agency.
Regarding questions about whether the punishment was too severe, Lu Shiow-yen believes that the person involved only confessed honestly after the problem was discovered by outsiders. She reiterated that this is a police discipline issue, and particularly, a chief must have the ability to respond and judge. She also noted that the precinct chief was present during the joint meeting of the police and prosecutors, yet did not confess, causing the police to expend significant manpower and time on the investigation. Fundamentally, she understands the disciplinary actions by the National Police Agency and the City Police Bureau. (Editor: Zhang Mingkun) 1150421
Ko Wen-je was sprayed with pepper spray on the evening of April 17 while accompanying TPP Taichung City Councilor candidate Liu Qin-yu on a campaign trail at Fengjia Night Market. Ko Wen-je and several volunteers experienced discomfort and coughing. After days of investigation, the Taichung City Police Bureau found that it was Sixth Precinct Chief Chou Chun-ming who sprayed pepper spray towards the ground due to a malfunctioning device. Chou Chun-ming was subsequently demoted and reprimanded.
Lu Shiow-yen, speaking to reporters before a city government meeting on the morning of April 21, stated that this is not only an unbelievable incident but also a police discipline issue. She pointed out that the precinct chief did not honestly explain the situation at the first or even second time, which led the police to mobilize a large number of personnel, equipment, and surveillance cameras, conducting a thorough cross-comparison of all available surveillance footage and interviews in the Fengjia business district.
The police investigation revealed that Chou Chun-ming was testing the pepper spray device because it was malfunctioning. Lu Shiow-yen stated that as a police officer, one should have professional knowledge of the equipment they use and should not be testing it there. She added that if it's broken, they should be able to handle it, which is also a test of emergency response and leadership capabilities. She understands the disciplinary actions taken by the City Police Bureau. The case has been transferred for prosecution, and the prosecutor is currently investigating. Due to the hierarchical system of the police, personnel appointments and disciplinary actions are led by the National Police Agency.
Regarding questions about whether the punishment was too severe, Lu Shiow-yen believes that the person involved only confessed honestly after the problem was discovered by outsiders. She reiterated that this is a police discipline issue, and particularly, a chief must have the ability to respond and judge. She also noted that the precinct chief was present during the joint meeting of the police and prosecutors, yet did not confess, causing the police to expend significant manpower and time on the investigation. Fundamentally, she understands the disciplinary actions by the National Police Agency and the City Police Bureau. (Editor: Zhang Mingkun) 1150421