Taiwanese television host Kevin Tsai appeared on Oct. 4 at the campaign headquarters inauguration of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate for Taipei mayor Puma Shen (Shen Po-yang), sitting in the front row and holding campaign merchandise. His appearance drew calls for a boycott from mainland Chinese internet users and criticism from Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office. Chinese companies also distanced themselves from earlier collaborations with him.
Tsai was scheduled to attend the inauguration of Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s campaign headquarters on Oct. 26. However, the previous evening, he unexpectedly posted an apology on Weibo, stating that he had “never supported Taiwan independence.” He also said he hoped for friendly relations across the Taiwan Strait. Shen said the timing of Tsai’s post “felt more like it had been decided for him,” adding that the alleged interference from China was heartbreaking. Tsai subsequently attended Chiang’s campaign event as planned.
Shen Po-yang: CCP interference is heartbreaking
According to Taiwan’s Central News Agency, Shen held a press conference on the “Taipei Water Culture Revival Movement” at his campaign headquarters on the morning of Oct. 26 and answered questions from reporters.
Asked about Tsai’s unexpected Weibo post on Oct. 25 denying that he had ever supported Taiwan independence, and comparisons with the controversy involving Taiwanese singer Chou Tzu-yu several years ago, Shen shared his views.
Shen said Taiwanese people should be free to attend whatever events they choose in Taiwan, without interference from the CCP. Tsai had also made it clear on the day he attended the campaign headquarters inauguration that he wanted to interview different political figures and learn about their policy positions, which was why he attended various events.
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“These are all perfectly normal things for Taiwanese people to do,” Shen said. “Yet they still have to face this kind of interference from China. I find it deeply heartbreaking.”
Asked by the media whether Kevin Tsai’s decision to issue the statement on the eve of Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s campaign headquarters inauguration was sensitive in terms of timing, Shen said he personally felt that the timing of the post “seemed more like it had been decided for him,” rather than Tsai independently deciding, “I just happen to want to post something at this time.”
Shen further pointed out that Tsai’s remarks had surged to the top of Weibo’s trending topics list. “For something to make it onto Weibo’s trending topics list, it is basically the authorities who decide, especially for the top three,” he said. His assertion about the platform’s ranking process was not independently verified.
Regardless of whether the timing of Tsai’s post had been determined by others or for some other reason, Shen said, it revealed what he regarded as signs of CCP interference in Taiwanese people’s freedom to make their own decisions.
Chiang Wan-an: ‘We will never accept anti-democratic threats’
According to a TVBS News report, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an said during an event on Oct. 26 that he welcomed Kevin Tsai’s participation in the inauguration of his campaign headquarters. Regardless of whether Tsai ultimately supported him, Chiang said, he respected Tsai’s statements and political positions.
Chiang also stressed that he firmly opposed efforts to attack, boycott, or ostracize people simply because they held different opinions or political positions. “We will never accept such anti-democratic threats,” he said.
Tsai attended Chiang’s campaign launch later that day. According to the Central News Agency, Tsai described it as “a very successful event.” Asked about his earlier Weibo statement, he said he wanted to address his fans in mainland China, offering farewell, thanks, and an apology.
Media outlets and commentators have widely drawn parallels between Tsai’s unexpected statement, issued at a politically sensitive moment, and the 2016 “Chou Tzu-yu incident.” The latest episode has renewed public discussion in Taiwan about the pressures faced by public figures caught between the political dynamics of Taiwan and mainland China.
Taipei’s mayor is elected by Taipei residents
In a recent interview with Zhang Yaqin, host of Era News’ Yaqin Sees the World, Shen Po-yang said that Taipei’s mayor should be elected by Taipei residents, not appointed by Beijing, according to a report by Taiwan’s Central News Agency.
Asked whether the remark implied that the Kuomintang (KMT) or Chiang Wan-an had been appointed by Beijing, Shen explained that he had been responding to a question from the host. She had asked how to view concerns that his candidacy might further heighten cross-strait tensions.
Shen said his answer was straightforward: if Taiwan yielded to threats from the CCP, it would effectively allow Beijing to decide whom Taiwan should elect. He explained in English: “The mayor of Taipei is elected by the people of Taipei, not selected by China.”
Shen stressed that his point was that Taipei residents, rather than the Chinese Communist Party, should determine who becomes mayor. His remarks focused on how Taiwan should respond to threats from Beijing, he said, rather than making an allegation about who was appointing whom.
Shen added that the CCP had placed him on its list of “die-hard Taiwan independence separatists” in 2024, and that Chongqing police subsequently opened an investigation into him in 2025. He also alleged that the CCP had sent people to Taiwan to surveil him and his family.
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