Blue Party Accuses Taichung Candidate's Husband of Corruption, Hitting He's Image

Xu Yuzhen, Secretary-General of the Kuomintang caucus, issued a statement in Taipei today, accusing Xie Junxiong, the husband of Democratic Progressive Party candidate for Taichung mayor He Xinjun, of being implicated in a corruption case involving a columbarium construction project in Shengang Township, Changhua County. Xu demanded that He provide concrete assurances that her close associates and family members will no longer interfere with the city government’s bidding processes, and that she offer clear explanations to the residents of Taichung. This move not only challenges individual reputations but also serves as a renewed call by the Kuomintang for transparency in local governance.

The so-called “Changhua Shengang Township columbarium scandal” originated in 2019, when the local government contracted the construction of a columbarium. Subsequent reviews revealed multiple instances of suspected improper transactions. Investigations indicated exchanges of benefits between the involved contractors and local officials, as well as numerous payment records that bypassed public bidding procedures. Although judicial proceedings have led to the indictment of some individuals, many questions remain unresolved. Xie Junxiong has been identified as one of the key coordinators in the case and is suspected of leveraging political connections to facilitate the contractors’ operations. The incident has drawn widespread attention from local media and social networks, negatively impacting public trust in the integrity of public works.

Since announcing her candidacy for Taichung mayor, He Xinjun has centered her campaign on “clean governance,” repeatedly emphasizing the need to “cut off collusion between politics and business.” However, with the emergence of Xu’s accusations, He’s image faces an unprecedented challenge. This accusation by the Kuomintang comes as the 2024 local elections approach, inevitably intensifying the electoral battle between the two parties. From a political perspective, the Kuomintang’s action is both an attempt to undermine the image of the DPP candidate and a signal to voters that the party will strictly oversee the city government to ensure no interference by cronies. Conversely, if the DPP fails to provide a strong response immediately, it risks losing the trust of some voters.

From the perspective of Taichung residents, He’s commitments and responses will directly influence their expectations for city governance. In recent years, Taichung has been plagued by controversies over public works, and public fear of “lack of transparency and corruption” has not diminished. If He can provide specific oversight mechanisms and independent review plans in the short term, it will help rebuild public trust. Conversely, if her response remains merely rhetorical, it may be perceived as avoiding responsibility, further weakening her electoral base.

This incident also highlights the typical phenomenon in Taiwanese politics of “the thief crying out for the catch.” While the Kuomintang accuses the DPP candidate’s family of involvement in the scandal, reports also indicate that the Kuomintang itself has faced similar allegations in local elections. This cycle of mutual accusations requires voters to carefully distinguish between facts and political maneuvering when evaluating candidates. If both sides fail to respond with transparent and verifiable evidence, the election results will be less likely to reflect the true will of the people.

In this context, Taichung residents and voters need to focus not only on the actions of individual figures but also on the health of the overall local governance system. In the future, reducing the room for interference by individuals or their associates through independent oversight bodies, public bidding, and third-party audits will be a crucial step in enhancing the transparency of local politics in Taiwan. If He Xinjun and her team can propose practical and feasible reform measures on this issue, they may have the opportunity to regain voters’ trust in the upcoming election.

(Source: Central News Agency)