DPP Nominee Shen Po-yang Vows Change in Taipei Mayoral Bid, Citing Daughter's Story
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has nominated legislator Shen Po-yang to run for Taipei mayor, challenging incumbent Mayor Chiang Wan-an. Shen announced his candidacy today, highlighting issues such as population outflow, traffic congestion, environmental hygiene, food safety, and childcare. He emphasized the need for long-term urban planning and governance, stating, "Can change really happen? My daughter showed me: it really can!"
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 13, 2026 at 17:21
- 🔍 Collected: May 13, 2026 at 17:32 (10 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 14, 2026 at 02:47 (9h 15m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Taipei, May 13) - The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has nominated legislator Shen Po-yang to run for Taipei mayor, challenging incumbent Mayor Chiang Wan-an. Shen Po-yang said today that Taipei faces issues such as population outflow, traffic congestion, environmental hygiene, food safety, and childcare. He has decided to run and promote a city governance ecosystem with long-term planning. "Can change really happen? My daughter showed me: it really can!"
President Lai Ching-te, who also serves as DPP Chairman, placed the campaign sash on Shen Po-yang at the nomination press conference.
In his speech, Shen Po-yang addressed the citizens, saying, "I have decided to run for Taipei mayor, please let me be your mayor."
He stated that he is a native Taipei resident, having grown up in Wufenpu. He attended Jian Guo High School and National Taiwan University, earning a Master of Laws from the University of Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. in Criminology from the University of California. He had secured a teaching position in the United States and thought he could live a good life there, but a voice in his heart urged him to return home. Taipei is his hometown, and his heart is tied to it, so he gave up his teaching position and returned to his hometown to start working hard.
Shen Po-yang said that many people know him from his two years as a legislator, focusing on national security and safeguarding the country. However, in his past, he spent over a decade engaged in academic research on social ecology, establishing think tanks and non-profit organizations, and then moved into the classroom and Congress. He hopes to bring his expertise, global experience, and solutions back to Taiwan and dedicate them to the citizens of Taipei.
He believes Taipei is the city with the best conditions in all of Taiwan and the closest to the world. However, despite having the best conditions, people are leaving; despite having the most generous budget, citizens cannot feel the changes from planning; despite the extensive transportation infrastructure, citizens' commute times have not truly shortened, and everyone suffers from traffic congestion; citizens work hard to catch garbage trucks, but the city's environmental hygiene has not improved; food safety issues arise one after another, and the childcare environment is even more worrying. "Can this city provide peace of mind for parents?" Everyone is working hard to live their lives every day, yet they find it increasingly difficult to feel that the city is getting better.
Shen Po-yang believes that the worst thing for a city is not the appearance of wounds, but only having the ability to apply bandages to cover deeper crises. If a city loses its ability for long-term planning, no amount of resources can be easily transformed into genuine happiness for its citizens.
He said that he used to often ask himself, "Can change really happen? My daughter showed me: it really can!"
Shen Po-yang mentioned that his daughter is adopted. When she first came home, she was afraid of the unfamiliar environment and clung to her mother for seven hours on the first day, refusing to let go. She was so scared that she wouldn't even look at him when he was nearby. But he did not give up. He read extensively on how to help children open up, introduced himself to her every day even though she couldn't speak yet, stayed with her, and waited. "Slowly, she started to hold my hand. Slowly, she was willing to let me hug her. Slowly, she would run over on her own and call me 'Dad.'"
Shen Po-yang laughed, saying his daughter showed him that "change is possible, it just requires a start and determination."
Shen Po-yang said that citizens have also changed him. In recent years, he has seen more and more citizens stand up for what they believe in.
He said that as a scholar, a politician, and a father, he should also stand up and tell everyone what the citizens of Taipei want. Within the entire city, an ecosystem needs to be formed, complemented by directed and efficient urban governance, to create urban vitality, hope, and vision. Solving problems does not just require bandages, but a complete immune system for Taipei.
He believes that the soul of a city comes from citizen participation, not from the halo of power of those in office. The calling card that Taipei can present to the world does not come from one mayor, but from the hard work, creativity, and imagination of all citizens. Only in this way can it truly stand with Tokyo, New York, London, and Paris and host the "Infinite City Forum." This is the capital of Taiwan. This is the Taipei of the world. (Editor: Hsieh Chia-chen) 1150513
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(Central News Agency, Taipei, May 13) - The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has nominated legislator Shen Po-yang to run for Taipei mayor, challenging incumbent Mayor Chiang Wan-an. Shen Po-yang said today that Taipei faces issues such as population outflow, traffic congestion, environmental hygiene, food safety, and childcare. He has decided to run and promote a city governance ecosystem with long-term planning. "Can change really happen? My daughter showed me: it really can!"
President Lai Ching-te, who also serves as DPP Chairman, placed the campaign sash on Shen Po-yang at the nomination press conference.
In his speech, Shen Po-yang addressed the citizens, saying, "I have decided to run for Taipei mayor, please let me be your mayor."
He stated that he is a native Taipei resident, having grown up in Wufenpu. He attended Jian Guo High School and National Taiwan University, earning a Master of Laws from the University of Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. in Criminology from the University of California. He had secured a teaching position in the United States and thought he could live a good life there, but a voice in his heart urged him to return home. Taipei is his hometown, and his heart is tied to it, so he gave up his teaching position and returned to his hometown to start working hard.
Shen Po-yang said that many people know him from his two years as a legislator, focusing on national security and safeguarding the country. However, in his past, he spent over a decade engaged in academic research on social ecology, establishing think tanks and non-profit organizations, and then moved into the classroom and Congress. He hopes to bring his expertise, global experience, and solutions back to Taiwan and dedicate them to the citizens of Taipei.
He believes Taipei is the city with the best conditions in all of Taiwan and the closest to the world. However, despite having the best conditions, people are leaving; despite having the most generous budget, citizens cannot feel the changes from planning; despite the extensive transportation infrastructure, citizens' commute times have not truly shortened, and everyone suffers from traffic congestion; citizens work hard to catch garbage trucks, but the city's environmental hygiene has not improved; food safety issues arise one after another, and the childcare environment is even more worrying. "Can this city provide peace of mind for parents?" Everyone is working hard to live their lives every day, yet they find it increasingly difficult to feel that the city is getting better.
Shen Po-yang believes that the worst thing for a city is not the appearance of wounds, but only having the ability to apply bandages to cover deeper crises. If a city loses its ability for long-term planning, no amount of resources can be easily transformed into genuine happiness for its citizens.
He said that he used to often ask himself, "Can change really happen? My daughter showed me: it really can!"
Shen Po-yang mentioned that his daughter is adopted. When she first came home, she was afraid of the unfamiliar environment and clung to her mother for seven hours on the first day, refusing to let go. She was so scared that she wouldn't even look at him when he was nearby. But he did not give up. He read extensively on how to help children open up, introduced himself to her every day even though she couldn't speak yet, stayed with her, and waited. "Slowly, she started to hold my hand. Slowly, she was willing to let me hug her. Slowly, she would run over on her own and call me 'Dad.'"
Shen Po-yang laughed, saying his daughter showed him that "change is possible, it just requires a start and determination."
Shen Po-yang said that citizens have also changed him. In recent years, he has seen more and more citizens stand up for what they believe in.
He said that as a scholar, a politician, and a father, he should also stand up and tell everyone what the citizens of Taipei want. Within the entire city, an ecosystem needs to be formed, complemented by directed and efficient urban governance, to create urban vitality, hope, and vision. Solving problems does not just require bandages, but a complete immune system for Taipei.
He believes that the soul of a city comes from citizen participation, not from the halo of power of those in office. The calling card that Taipei can present to the world does not come from one mayor, but from the hard work, creativity, and imagination of all citizens. Only in this way can it truly stand with Tokyo, New York, London, and Paris and host the "Infinite City Forum." This is the capital of Taiwan. This is the Taipei of the world. (Editor: Hsieh Chia-chen) 1150513
Choose to stand with the facts. Every contribution you make is a force to protect the freedom of the press.
Download the Central News Agency "One-Hand News" APP for real-time updates.
Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or used without authorization.
FAQ
Why is Shen Po-yang running for Taipei mayor?
He is running to address issues such as Taipei's population outflow, traffic congestion, environmental hygiene, food safety, and childcare environment, advocating for the necessity of long-term urban planning.
What is Shen Po-yang's background?
He has served as a legislator, specializing in national security, and previously worked as a social ecologist, establishing think tanks and non-profit organizations. He holds a Master of Laws from the University of Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. in Criminology from the University of California.
What is Shen Po-yang's main message in the election?
He advocates that "change is possible" and that citizen participation and directed, efficient urban governance are essential for creating urban vitality. He believes in building a complete urban immune system rather than just applying superficial fixes.