KMT condemns DPP deflection, denounces online bullying of Jiang's teen son

The political arena has recently been roiled by a series of child‑protection issues, prompting a heated exchange of accusations. At a press conference on the 7th, Chen Yixin, chairman of the Cultural and Communication Committee of the Kuomintang (KMT) Central Committee, publicly rebuked the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for simultaneously proclaiming its commitment to combating child abuse and strengthening the social safety net while, on the internet, collectively bullying the minor son of Taipei Mayor Jiang Wan‑an, Jiang De‑li. Chen condemned the ruling party for extending political grudges and partisan battles to an innocent child, calling the conduct deplorable and warning that Taiwan’s political climate is once again being dragged into a debate over moral standards.

During the briefing, Chen highlighted that southern regions such as Kaohsiung and Tainan have in recent years exhibited numerous gaps in the construction of child‑safety networks. The Audit Department has repeatedly issued warnings and corrective recommendations, yet tragedies continue to recur. He attributed the persistence of these incidents to administrative inertia at the local level and failures of central oversight, issues that, in his view, should be the focus of serious review and reform by DPP legislators and the governing team. Instead, Chen alleged, DPP officials and some of their supporters have shifted attention away from the frequent child‑related incidents in the south, launching a large‑scale attack on Mayor Jiang’s family privacy and dragging a minor into the vortex of partisan conflict.

The background of the controversy reflects Taiwan’s heightened sensitivity in recent years to child‑abuse prevention, social safety‑net deficiencies, and the criminal liability for abuse. Each time a related tragedy occurs, public outrage intensifies and places substantial pressure on both local and central authorities. In this charged atmosphere, the actions and statements of politicians’ relatives often become amplified targets of online scrutiny, sometimes crossing legal and ethical lines that protect minors. The KMT contends that DPP legislators and coordinated online operatives have deliberately manipulated discussion of Jiang De‑li as a form of political bullying intended to divert attention from the shortcomings of southern local governments in safeguarding children.

From the perspective of political communication and party competition, the episode underscores Taiwan’s highly polarized environment, where policy debates quickly devolve into blue‑green (KMT‑DPP) confrontations. Child‑abuse prevention should be a cross‑party, non‑partisan consensus. The public expects legislators and officials to collaborate on strengthening the social safety net, improving social‑worker compensation and rights, and refining legislation to deter abuse, rather than shifting blame or targeting opponents’ families when tragedies strike. Such “surrounding Wei to rescue Zhao” tactics not only fail to address the substantive problems but also further erode the already fragile trust within Taiwanese society.

In closing, the KMT urged that political competition be conducted with restraint. While oversight of public policy and administrative shortcomings is legitimate, attacking minor children is an especially reprehensible tactic in a democratic system. As the governing DPP, Chen argued, the party should demonstrate greater maturity and self‑discipline, curbing the conduct of its officials and supporters, and returning to substantive policy discussion and a thorough review of child‑abuse prevention gaps. After multiple heartbreaking incidents involving children, Taiwanese society needs genuine, reflective reform—not endless political mud‑slinging and further harm to innocent youngsters.

(Source: Central News Agency)