Wen Shih-cheng Promotes Shueili Eco-Tourism, Opposes Mingjian Incinerator Amid Strategy Debate

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate for Nantou County Magistrate Wen Shih-zheng accompanied Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim on Thursday morning to attend a memorial ceremony in Shuili Township, Nantou. During a press conference following the ceremony, Wen outlined his vision for the development of Shuili, emphasizing the promotion of ecotourism and agricultural upgrading based on local resources. Noting that Shuili possesses abundant water resources and mountain landscapes, serving as a vital freshwater supply area for Nantou County as well as a popular route for cycling paths and hiking trails, Wen stated that future efforts will focus on strengthening the connection between Shuili and tourist hubs such as Sun Moon Lake and Cingjing. He proposed establishing multifunctional recreational facilities and leveraging local specialties such as tea and bamboo shoots to develop agricultural processing and brand marketing, thereby boosting local employment and encouraging young people to return to their hometowns.

During the same press conference, Wen also expressed his opposition to the construction of an incinerator in Mingjian Township. Mingjian has previously been the focus of controversy multiple times due to waste management issues, with local residents expressing concern that emissions from an incinerator would adversely affect air quality and crop safety. Citing relevant testing data from the Environmental Protection Administration, Wen argued that existing waste incineration facilities are already sufficient to handle the county's waste disposal needs, rendering the construction of a new furnace in Mingjian unnecessary. This stance not only echoes the demands of local environmental groups but also highlights his intention to center his campaign around environmental protection and sustainability, thereby drawing a contrast with the energy policies of the Kuomintang (KMT) ruling team.

In contrast, incumbent KMT Nantou County Magistrate Hsu Shu-hua focused her press conference on the same day on the integration of Sun Moon Lake tourism and agricultural marketing. Hsu noted that as Taiwan's most renowned lake, Sun Moon Lake attracts over a million visitors annually. While the area boasts abundant hotel and homestay resources, she pointed out a persistent lack of effective linkage with local agricultural products. She proposed a "hotel agricultural product marketing" initiative, planning to collaborate with accommodation providers in the Sun Moon Lake region to set up display and sales areas for Nantou's specialty agricultural products in guest rooms and restaurants. Through word-of-mouth recommendations from travelers and online platforms, she aims to promote Nantou's tea, plums, bamboo shoots, and other products to national and international markets. Hsu emphasized that this measure will not only increase farmers' income but also inject freshness into the tourism industry and enhance the added value of the overall lodging experience.

The policy focal points of the two candidates reflect the primary issues facing Nantou County ahead of the election: on one hand, the balance between environmental sustainability and local industry, and on the other hand, how to combine tourism resources with the agricultural value chain to create a win-win scenario. As a core mountainous area in central Taiwan, Nantou County has long faced the challenges of population outflow and a single-structured economy. In recent years, central government policies promoting agricultural transformation and tourism value-addition have provided local leaders with a viable development blueprint, though actual implementation still requires overcoming multiple obstacles such as infrastructure, capital investment, and public consensus. Wen's development plans for Shuili and his anti-incinerator stance underscore his desire to reposition Nantou's development trajectory using environmental protection and ecotourism as entry points, whereas Hsu builds upon existing tourism resources to seek breakthroughs in agricultural marketing, attempting to boost the county's economic vitality in the short term.

From the perspective of electoral strategy, both candidates have adopted local revitalization as their core appeal, differing only in their angles of approach. If Wen's proposals can secure the support of local communities and environmental groups, it will help him shape an image of guarding the mountains and protecting water sources in the minds of voters. Conversely, if Hsu's agricultural marketing plan can yield rapid results, it is expected to consolidate her incumbent performance record and win the endorsement of swing voters. The campaigns in the coming weeks will further test the feasibility and public resonance of these two paths, and will determine the policy direction and development priorities of Nantou's next administration.