Mohan Sinha
15 May 2026, 01:15 GMT+10
TAIPEI, Taiwan: Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) nominated lawmaker Puma Shen, who China has sanctioned for "supporting separatism", as its candidate for Taipei mayor on May 13.
Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, will hold important local elections for mayors and county leaders in November. These elections mainly focus on local issues, but they will also show how much support each political party has before the presidential election in early 2028.
In Taipei, the current mayor, Chiang Wan-an, from the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), is expected to be a strong candidate for re-election, as opinion polls show he is popular. He will face a tough challenge from Shen, the candidate from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
President Lai Ching-te introduced Shen as a highly capable candidate. He said Shen understands Taiwan's journey from authoritarian rule to democracy and knows that China is still the biggest threat to Taiwan's democracy and human rights. Lai added that Shen has worked to fight misinformation and strengthen Taiwan's ability to defend itself socially.
China imposed sanctions on Shen in 2024, as well as on the Kuma Academy, which he helped start. The academy trains people in civil defense in case of a possible attack from China. However, these sanctions have little real effect because senior DPP officials do not travel to China, and the academy does not operate there.
China's legal system has no power in Taiwan. Taiwan's government rejects China's claim over the island and says only the Taiwanese people can decide their future.
Shen has a doctorate in criminology and law from the University of California, Irvine. Both he and Chiang speak English fluently and often meet foreign visitors.
The DPP has only won the Taipei mayoral election once before, when Chen Shui-bian served as mayor from 1994 to 1998. He later became Taiwan's first DPP president.
Get a daily dose of Poland Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Poland Sun.
More InformationVATICAN CITY: The Vatican said on May 13 that a breakaway Catholic group that supports the old Latin Mass should cancel its plan to...
LUXEMBOURG CITY, Luxembourg: TikTok on May 12 urged Europe's highest court to overturn its designation as a gatekeeper under the European...
MADRID, Spain: A U.S.-German couple who locked up their three children at home for three-and-a-half years, after developing a fear...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Ambulance workers went on a 24-hour strike action over a pay dispute, and the HSE said the industrial action would...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Lawyers for three men who targeted a vulnerable teenager and lured her into a car before driving her to Dollymount...
PARIS, France: French prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation targeting Elon Musk and social media platform X over allegations...
TAIPEI, Taiwan: Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) nominated lawmaker Puma Shen, who China has sanctioned for supporting...
LONDON, U.K.: OPEC cut its forecast for global oil demand growth in 2026 on May 13, citing the impact of the Iran war and the disruption...
VATICAN CITY: The Vatican said on May 13 that a breakaway Catholic group that supports the old Latin Mass should cancel its plan to...
BEIJING, China: President Donald Trump and an entourage that included Nvidia's Jensen Huang and Elon Musk landed in Beijing to a lavish...
MADRID, Spain: A U.S.-German couple who locked up their three children at home for three-and-a-half years, after developing a fear...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: A Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on May 11 showed that two out of three Americans believe President Donald Trump has...
