From Rural Roots to New Taipei Mayor: Li Sichuan Shares Bitter Upbringing and Pragmatic Vision

Kuomintang candidate for New Taipei City Mayor Lee Shih-chuan visited a lecture hall at National Taipei University on the 22nd to share his personal growth journey and life philosophy with faculty, students, and attendees. Lee opened with the remark, "Those who have known hardship do not forget the suffering of others," explaining how he emerged from an impoverished rural family, completed his education through diligence and perseverance, and subsequently entered public service and politics. This background allowed him to deeply understand the hardships of the underprivileged and shaped his core values of "being honest in character and pragmatic in action." During the speech, he not only recounted his childhood experiences of hauling straw and carrying water, but also used concrete examples to illustrate how the spirit of pragmatism is implemented in local construction and public livelihood services, avoiding empty talk and slogans.

Lee’s political career dates back two decades, during which he has successively served as a New Taipei City councilor, a legislator, and deputy secretary-general of the Kuomintang. Over the years, he has built a reputation both within and outside the party for his pragmatic work style, frequently using concrete data and viable solutions to persuade colleagues, particularly on issues of transportation infrastructure and social housing. His appearance on the university podium as a mayoral candidate comes amid the fervor of the 2024 local elections. As Taiwan's most populous municipality, New Taipei City has always been a focal point for both the pan-Blue and pan-Green camps. Although the Kuomintang successfully retained power in the mayoral election last year, the party still faces a generational transition between veterans and newcomers. Lee’s speech aimed to highlight his emotional connection with grassroots citizens and use his personal story as a bridge to convey the message to voters of "remembering hardship and creating a shared future."

In Taiwan's current political environment, the Kuomintang is striving to reshape its image and shake off past labels of being "old-fashioned" and "lacking innovation." Throughout his speech, Lee repeatedly invoked the concept of "pragmatism," emphasizing that policymaking must stem from the real needs of the people, thereby avoiding hollow slogan politics. This contrasts with the "sustainable development" and "smart city" policies promoted by the Democratic Progressive Party administration in recent years, demonstrating that the pan-Blue camp is attempting to win over moderate voters through a pragmatic and down-to-earth approach in its electoral strategy. Scholars point out that if candidates can effectively combine personal experiences with public issues, it will help enhance voter emotional identification, especially in a diverse and highly competitive constituency like New Taipei City.

The venue of the speech—National Taipei University—also holds symbolic significance. As one of the nation's key higher education institutions, the university has long dedicated itself to cultivating talent in public affairs and the social sciences. It frequently hosts public lectures by political parties and social organizations, providing a platform for young students and various sectors of society to exchange ideas. By choosing to speak there, Lee intended to convey the values of "pragmatism" and "empathy" to the younger generation, hoping to foster future civic engagement through the integration of education and politics. Participating student representatives remarked that they felt the power of "learning through hardship and growing through practice" from Lee’s story, expressing their belief that such a political figure is better able to align with their daily expectations.

In summary, Lee Shih-chuan’s speech was not only a sharing of personal experiences but also a strategic move by the Kuomintang to project a pragmatic image in the New Taipei City mayoral race. Through the narrative of "someone who has known hardship," he attempted to narrow the distance with grassroots voters while demonstrating the party's vitality and sincerity to young voters. In the coming weeks, as campaign activities intensify across political parties, it remains to be seen whether Lee's remarks will translate into votes based on how voters respond to "pragmatism" and "empathy." Regardless of the outcome, the speech has already sparked discussion in political and academic circles, indicating that on Taiwan's political stage, the combination of personal narrative and policy pragmatism remains an important means of winning public support.