New Taipei Mayoral Candidate Su Chiao-hui Faces Fierce Clash Over Subsidy Controversy

In the upcoming local elections, the campaign team of Su Chiao-hui, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate for New Taipei City Mayor, has faced scrutiny from political opponents. Recently, Kuomintang (KMT) spokesperson Lu Jia-kai alleged that Kuangshi Intelligence, a company in which Su’s sister, Su Chiao-chun, serves as a director, engaged in irregularities during the government investment subsidy process. These accusations have immediately drawn media and voter attention, becoming a focal point between the two parties on the eve of the election.

Kuangshi Intelligence, a company specializing in smart city and artificial intelligence technologies, has received government investment subsidies to promote local innovation. According to public records, the company completed the forms required by the competent authorities and submitted the relevant documents in accordance with regulations when applying for the subsidy. The core of the controversy lies in whether the fact that Su Chiao-chun is a director but not the actual person in charge affects the impartiality of the application process, which is the main point of the KMT’s questioning. The familial relationship between Kuangshi Intelligence and Su Chiao-hui has also been subjected to intensified scrutiny, with discussions focusing on whether there was any transfer of benefits or preferential treatment.

In response, Su Chiao-hui’s campaign office quickly stated that Su Chiao-chun is not the person in charge of Kuangshi Intelligence and that all forms were truthfully filled out as required by the competent authorities during the subsidy application, without violating any regulations. The office further noted that the team will continue to fight the election in a positive manner and called on voters to view the matter rationally. This response aims to alleviate public doubts, protect the candidate’s image, and highlight respect for laws and procedures.

This incident is not merely a subsidy dispute involving a single company; it also reflects the sensitivity of political parties in Taiwan to their opponents’ sources of funding and corporate backgrounds during election periods. The KMT is leveraging this event to shift voter attention toward the candidate’s family background and to imply potential opacity in the DPP’s financial operations. Conversely, the DPP is citing legal compliance, emphasizing that all procedures were handled in accordance with the law, in an attempt to weaken the impact of its opponent’s attacks. If this controversy is further amplified, it could influence voters’ perceptions of the candidate’s morality and professional judgment, thereby affecting the distribution of votes.

On a broader level, government investment subsidies are often a crucial driver of local entrepreneurship and technological development. If such subsidies are frequently used as tools for political attack, it may undermine public trust in the fairness of government resource allocation. Any further investigations or legal proceedings will reveal the transparency and efficiency of the government’s review mechanisms and may prompt relevant departments to strengthen information disclosure and review processes. For voters, understanding the authenticity of the connections between corporate backgrounds and candidates has become essential information that cannot be ignored before casting their votes.

(Source: Central News Agency)