Taichung election heats up as He pushes Youth Bureau, Jiang calls for NT$20k aid

As Taiwan’s local elections continue to heat up, central Taiwan remains a fiercely contested political battleground, and the mayoral race in Taichung has drawn nationwide attention. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) mayoral candidate He Xin‑chun today detailed a series of “youth‑dream” policies aimed at the younger generation, stating unequivocally that, if elected, she would establish a dedicated Youth Bureau to provide comprehensive support for entrepreneurship and personal aspirations in the city. On the other side, Kuomintang (KMT) candidate Jiang Qi‑chen presented a platform that spans social welfare and transportation issues, and loudly called on the central government to issue a universal cash payment of NT$20,000 to materially ease residents’ cost‑of‑living burdens. Both leading candidates are laying out substantive policy proposals, underscoring their keen reading of Taichung’s evolving electorate and the public’s demands.

He Xin‑chun’s policy speech focused specifically on the development and challenges faced by young people. As a candidate for a directly administered municipality, she emphasized the enormous pressure modern youth face amid soaring housing prices, low wages, and insufficient startup capital. To address these issues, she proposed the creation of a Youth Bureau that would consolidate government resources, preventing entrepreneurship subsidies and advisory services from being scattered across multiple agencies and reduced to mere formality. The core of the proposal is a one‑stop service model that would offer small‑scale seed funding, professional consulting, market matchmaking, and later‑stage operational guidance in a systematic manner. He stressed that young people constitute the city’s future and its engine of innovation; Taichung must build a more youth‑friendly environment so that ambitious, idealistic individuals can settle, thrive, and drive industrial transformation and economic vitality without hesitation.

In the blue‑camp camp, KMT candidate Jiang Qi‑chen adopted a grassroots‑oriented strategy that centers on everyday welfare and infrastructure. In addition to outlining concrete plans for social welfare and transportation improvements, Jiang directed his criticism at the central government, demanding a universal cash payout of NT$20,000. He pointed out that inflation has remained high in recent years, essential‑goods prices continue to climb, and real wages have stagnated, leaving many workers and low‑income families in hardship. Jiang argued that over‑collected tax revenue should be returned to the people, and that a universal cash distribution is the most direct and effective way to alleviate public economic anxiety. By making this issue a cornerstone of his platform, he seeks to galvanize strong resonance among grassroots voters while elevating the debate to the level of central‑local fiscal allocation and broader economic policy, thereby demonstrating his oversight role and policy stance.

The two candidates’ proposals, though different in focus, mirror the dual expectations Taiwanese voters now hold for local leaders. On one hand, there is a desire for forward‑looking urban planning and industry support, exemplified by He’s youth‑entrepreneurship and dedicated agency initiative; on the other, voters seek immediate, tangible economic benefits and social‑welfare safeguards, as embodied in Jiang’s cash payout and transport‑and‑welfare improvements. Taichung’s electorate has shifted in recent years with the expansion of the science park and an influx of newcomers, increasing the share of young voters and swing voters. This demographic change forces both parties to balance “investing in the future” with “caring for the present.” He’s youth policy projects hope and long‑term growth, while Jiang’s cash demand strikes at the pressing survival concerns of today, creating a stark contrast in campaign strategy.

From a broader political and social perspective, the policy contest in the Taichung mayoral race is not merely a showcase of local‑governance capability; it also serves as a microcosm of Taiwan’s overall socioeconomic landscape. Issues such as low youth wages, startup difficulties, inflationary pressure, and the division of fiscal responsibilities between central and local authorities are structural challenges that Taiwan cannot ignore. Both candidates offer solutions—whether through institutional reform to aid young entrepreneurs or through a forceful appeal for central wealth redistribution—and in doing so they test voters’ discernment and vision for the future. As the race intensifies, whether the “policy meat” can truly reach citizens’ hearts will be the decisive factor in vote allocation and will shape Taichung’s developmental trajectory for years to come.

(Source: Central News Agency)