The ‘Ocean Wave’ that is hitting Taipei now

In 40 years of watching politics, I have never seen anything quite like Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen’s (沈伯洋) breed of politician. He has a presence that commands attention, and a combination of qualities that appear to be the result of powerful political currents.

What is it that makes Shen different? Throughout the past decades of local elections, I have not seen anyone seriously discuss a long-term vision for urban planning, let alone with the kind of clarity and insight that Shen possesses that compels people to keep listening.

He is an exceptional storyteller, with an ability to present a vision for the city that brings complex policy ideas to life and offers real strategies for solving problems. Shen is able to frame his thinking on issues in terms of the everyday needs of citizens, putting people at the heart of the urban planning discussion and offering warmth in his approach to policy.

The contrast between Shen and incumbent Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) could not be clearer. Where Shen answers questions directly, Chiang skirts around them. Shen speaks clearly and persuasively on municipal planning, while Chiang is still looking for answers even after almost four years as mayor. Chiang has avoided policy debates with Shen entirely, trying instead to meticulously build his image through selective media appearances, but is now under the most intense level scrutiny he has faced in politics. The manufactured image is being torn away, and what remains is looking increasingly — almost painfully — insubstantial.

A person’s character is often revealed in the details. People online have shared encounters and heartwarming stories about Shen on social media, garnering a following of loyal supporters.

Taipei is a pan-blue stronghold, and for Shen to have brought the race neck-and-neck after only a few months of campaigning is no small achievement. Whether he can ultimately win hinges on three things:

First is to overcome the pan-blue camp’s mobilization of hatred. Having exhausted its usual tactics, Chiang’s team has one main remaining strategy: stoking the pan-blue camp’s sense of crisis. Where Shen seeks public consensus and support, Chiang seeks to mobilize hostility. If he is to win, Shen must find an effective way to counter these efforts.

Second is to secure the youth vote. Many young people in Taipei were once supporters of former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) and are now swing voters. Shen possesses many of the qualities that appeal to young people; his campaign should work with university student organizations to hold policy forums and bring his ideas directly onto campuses.

Third is to persuade centrist voters. Beyond the campaign team, this requires effort from across his supporter base to mobilize, bringing undecided friends and relatives along to a Shen policy forum, or sharing videos of his addresses online. I think anyone who spends five minutes listening to and getting to know Shen would come away liking him.

Swing, centrist and younger voters could be the key to victory in this Taipei mayoral election, but the key to their support lies with active civic momentum: the tremendous energy that comes from the spread of people’s enthusiasm. Puma Shen is a new model of politician, one who is reigniting citizens’ political imaginations. He taps into what one imagines politics — from the national to the local level — should truly look like, and demonstrates exactly the kind of vision and action that politicians ought to embody.

Michelle Wang is the deputy secretary of the Northern Taiwan Society.