Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an Faces Backlash Over 70% Absence Rate at Food Safety Meetings

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an has faced public scrutiny following calls for the central government to convene a national food safety meeting, with Taipei City Councilor Miao Po-ya alleging that the mayor has personally missed over 70% of the city’s own food safety committee meetings. The exchange has sparked a broader debate regarding the division of responsibility between local and central authorities in managing food safety protocols.

The controversy emerged after Mayor Chiang urged the Executive Yuan to hold a national-level meeting to address ongoing concerns regarding food safety standards. According to reports, Councilor Miao challenged the administration’s consistency, citing records that indicate the mayor was absent from 11 sessions of the Taipei City Food Safety Committee. This attendance rate has led to political criticism regarding the prioritization of the issue at the municipal level.

Verification of Committee Attendance and Division of Labor

The Taipei City Government has responded to the criticism by clarifying the operational structure of its food safety oversight. In statements provided to the media, the administration maintained that the city has implemented a division of labor, noting that while the mayor may not attend every session, the committee continues to function. The city government emphasized that these meetings are held regularly to ensure cross-departmental coordination, a procedure outlined in the city’s internal administrative regulations for food safety management.

Councilor Miao’s assertion regarding the 11 absences rests on the committee’s meeting records, which track the participation of high-level officials. In response to the claims, Mayor Chiang stated that the administration does not “cover up” information and that the focus should remain on effective policy implementation rather than personal attendance records alone. The mayor argued that the primary objective is to ensure that the city’s food safety mechanisms are integrated and functioning, regardless of his physical presence at every committee gathering.

National Coordination vs. Local Oversight

The tension between the Taipei City Government and the Executive Yuan intensified following a series of food safety incidents that prompted calls for heightened regulatory action. Mayor Chiang has publicly called on Premier Cho Jung-tai to take responsibility for central-level failures, at one point drawing comparisons to the political accountability standards observed during the Ma Ying-jeou administration. The mayor has advocated for President Lai Ching-te to convene a national security-level meeting to address systemic vulnerabilities in the food supply chain.

This approach has been met with skepticism from political opponents, who argue that the city government should focus on its own regulatory duties before demanding intervention from the central government. The debate highlights a recurring theme in Taiwanese local politics: the friction between municipal leaders and the central administration regarding who holds the ultimate authority—and accountability—for public health outcomes. As of the latest updates, there has been no formal announcement from the Executive Yuan regarding a change in the frequency or scope of national food safety meetings.

Next Steps in Regulatory Oversight

The ongoing discourse is expected to continue during upcoming sessions of the Taipei City Council, where officials are likely to face further questioning regarding the committee's effectiveness and the mayor’s role in its oversight. The department maintains a public database of food safety inspection findings and regulatory updates to ensure transparency for consumers.

The city government has not indicated plans to alter the current structure of the food safety committee, maintaining that the existing delegation of duties is sufficient for managing municipal food safety. Readers are encouraged to monitor future city council proceedings for any potential adjustments to these administrative protocols.

What are your thoughts on the balance between central and local government responsibility in food safety? Share your views in the comments section below.