Shen Fulfills Environmental Promise With Trees in Songxin

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Taipei mayoral candidate Shen Pao-yang held a "Policy Treasure Box" unboxing event on Saturday evening in the Songshan-Xinyi district. The campaign kicked off with a motorcade tour of the constituency, followed by a presentation on a makeshift stage where Shen detailed four core policy platforms. The most anticipated proposal was his environmental commitment to "bringing the trees back." Shen pointed out that green space in Taipei has decreased year after year, warning that failing to immediately restore tree canopy will directly worsen the urban heat island effect and lower residents' quality of life. To address this, he proposed planting more than 1,000 native trees in the Songshan-Xinyi district and across the city over the next four years, combining the effort with community volunteers and school education to build an "urban tree-lined avenue project." This move not only responds to recent public expectations for environmental sustainability but also aligns with the DPP's nationwide green transition policies.

In addition to the policy presentation, Shen's father, former legislator Shen Jung-tai, also delivered remarks, emphasizing a "people-centric" governance philosophy and calling on the entrepreneurs and social groups in attendance to participate in public infrastructure development. The most eye-catching moment of the event was the appearance of Su Chun-huai, father of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) CEO Lisa Su, who publicly expressed his full support for Shen Pao-yang. As a veteran Taiwanese entrepreneur with long-term investments in the local semiconductor and green energy industries, Su's endorsement is seen as a major boost for Shen on the issues of industrial upgrading and technological innovation. The Su family has previously donated several urban public facilities, and this latest personal endorsement highlights the delicate balance of business and politics in the Taipei mayoral race.

At the conclusion of the event, Premier Cho Jung-tai presented Shen Pao-yang with an astronomical telescope, symbolizing the mission to "lead Taipei toward a new direction." The gift was not merely a ceremonial political interaction, but also hinted at the government's macro-perspective on the city's future development. In his speech, Cho mentioned that as the nation's political, economic, and cultural center, Taipei must possess both "foresight" and "innovation" to maintain its lead in international competition. This gesture was also interpreted as an endorsement by the Executive Yuan of the DPP's promotion of major local projects, indicating a high level of consensus between the central and local governments regarding policy coordination.

As a densely populated district with older residential housing, the Songshan-Xinyi district has long faced problems such as insufficient public facilities, traffic congestion, and declining environmental quality. During the unboxing ceremony, Shen revealed plans to introduce the concept of a "smart city" to regional governance, utilizing the Internet of Things (IoT) and big data platforms to enhance public service efficiency while accelerating the energy-saving renovation of aging buildings. This policy echoes the "smart city" pilot projects promoted by the DPP across Taiwan in recent years and fulfills the central government's implementation needs under its "Digital Nation" blueprint. If executed on schedule, it is expected to improve the quality of living in the Songshan-Xinyi district and provide a model that other areas can emulate.

Overall, Shen Pao-yang's use of the "Policy Treasure Box" format to present a concrete administrative blueprint to voters—combining environmental protection, industry, and smart city initiatives—aims to gain the upper hand in the upcoming 2026 local elections. From Su Chun-huai's business endorsement to the premier's symbolic gift, the campaign demonstrates relatively abundant resources and reflects the DPP's overall strategic deployment in Taipei. In the coming months, if rival camps can propose more viable solutions to these same urban pain points, they could erode Shen's advantage; conversely, if his policies achieve sufficient practical implementation, they will enhance the DPP's governance image in the capital and provide a model for urban governance nationwide. (Source: Central News Agency)