Cai Yingming backs Shen Boyang, sparks new wave in Taipei mayor race

With the registration process for the year-end nine-in-one local elections officially kicking off this week, the battle for the capital city of Taipei has grown increasingly intense. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Taipei mayoral nominee Puma Shen is scheduled to officially visit the election commission tomorrow to complete his candidacy registration. This highly anticipated registration event marks an important milestone for Shen's campaign team and will feature former President Tsai Ing-wen, who retains strong political appeal and influence after leaving office, personally accompanying him to show her support. On the eve of the registration, Tsai used a personal messaging app to earnestly recommend this "good friend" to the general public, while publicly inviting citizens to witness together the formation of a new political wave in Taipei, which supporters have dubbed the "Ocean Current."

Reviewing the context of this campaign, Shen entered the mayoral race as a scholar-turned-politician. His primary campaign issues—national security, countering cognitive warfare, and urban defense—appear particularly unique amid the intersection of current complex geopolitics and local governance. In her messaging app post tonight, Tsai precisely grasped the rhythm of the campaign, introducing Shen to supporters while specifically emphasizing his professional contributions to democratic defense and social resilience. This model of being personally backed by the party's most prestigious political leader is not only intended to unite the pan-Green camp, but also aims to leverage Tsai's cross-generational, gentle image and strong grassroots foundation to help Shen step outside his echo chamber and extend an olive branch to a broader audience of independent voters and younger demographics in Taipei.

The so-called formation of the "Ocean Current" is a campaign theme and symbol that Shen's camp has actively shaped recently. In modern urban campaigns, relying solely on traditional party rallies is no longer sufficient to meet voter expectations; it is necessary to spark voter identity through agenda-setting and community momentum. Shen's team cleverly utilized the homophonic pun and characteristics of his name, comparing the gathering and enthusiasm of supporters to an unstoppable ocean current, symbolizing that democratic defense awareness and progressive governance concepts are converging in Taipei. Tomorrow's registration, personally accompanied by Tsai, is the critical moment for this "Ocean Current" to transition from online discourse to physical political mobilization, and is expected to attract massive media attention and crowds of supporters.

Looking at the broader picture, Taipei has always been a fiercely contested battleground in Taiwan's political arena, with a voter demographic characterized by diversity and high autonomy. By nominating Shen, the DPP notively demonstrates its determination to expand its voter base and deepen the defense line of local values, while the core challenge for the team has always been how to translate his scholarly image into an urban governance vision that citizens can see and feel. The substantive significance of Tsai's strong endorsement this time is to vouch for Shen's grassroots trustworthiness. Through the former president's political experience and warm words, she can not only alleviate some voters' doubts about a political novice's ability to govern the city, but also effectively consolidate the Green camp's base while further attracting independent voters who are deeply concerned about Taiwan's democratic development.

With the official registration completed tomorrow, the Taipei mayoral race will enter another heated phase. Candidates from all camps are fully prepared to dish out policy substance in the upcoming campaign schedule to win voter approval. Taking this crucial step accompanied by Tsai not only injects a shot in the arm for Shen's campaign, but also adds deeper room for discussion in the capital's race regarding national security, democratic defense, and the city's future development. Whether this political movement described as the "Ocean Current" can stir up a substantial wave in Taipei depends on how voters make their choices in the upcoming campaign, and tomorrow's joint appearance is undoubtedly an important prelude to this democratic game.

(Source: Central News Agency)