Over 75% of Mainland Chinese Are Unaware of Who Their City Mayor Is, Yet They Recognise Jiang Wan'an and Shen Boyang

[People News] Hello, dear viewers, and welcome to "Forbidden News Uncovered." I am Sun Ning.

The Taipei mayoral election campaign is now in its final stretch! Jiang Wan'an from the Kuomintang and Shen Boyang from the Democratic Progressive Party are both striving hard to gain voter support.

Recently, Shen Boyang's campaign convoy, named "Yangliuhao," departed from Taipei and arrived in Hsinchu. At the event, a mother brought her two young daughters to show their support, enthusiastically shouting, "Our mayor Shen Boyang!" In Taiwan, children grow up attending election events with their parents, learning about political figures and what elections entail.

In contrast, what about mainland China? It is astonishing that over 75% of adults do not know who their city mayor is, and 95% have never even seen their mayor! Chinese netizens are particularly struck by the fact that Taiwanese candidates, in their efforts to secure votes, walk through neighbourhoods, bowing and shaking hands with ordinary citizens, appearing "humble like salespeople." While the Chinese Communist Party frequently speaks of being "public servants," the officials that the Chinese populace encounters daily often wield power and privilege. However, through Taiwanese election videos, they witness the image of a "public servant" as portrayed by the CCP.

Jiang Wan'an meets "Yangliu" at the night market, while Shen Boyang urges against shouting.

On November 28, Taiwan will hold its nine-in-one elections. In the Taipei mayoral race, current mayor Jiang Wan'an of the Kuomintang and candidate Shen Boyang of the Democratic Progressive Party are both working diligently to win voter support.

On the evening of November 3, Jiang Wan'an and Kuomintang Kaohsiung mayoral candidate Ke Zhi'en visited the Ningxia Night Market in Taipei for a campaign event. The area was filled with supporters, and many vendors and citizens eagerly approached Jiang Wan'an to shake hands and take photos. However, there were also supporters of Shen Boyang in the crowd, some wearing 'Yang Liu' ribbons and distributing campaign materials, while others faced heckling from passersby.

On November 4, during a media interview, Shen Boyang publicly urged his supporters not to confront their opponent's campaign events directly.

He remarked, 'Let him campaign as he wishes.' If supporters happen to pass by, that's fine; those who wish to support him can wait for his own campaign events.

Elections can feature differing viewpoints and mutual criticisms, but there is no need to turn supporters of different parties into adversaries. Shen Boyang's appeal for supporters to avoid conflict is commendable.

In addition to his street campaigning, Jiang Wan'an launched campaign material titled 'Wan'an Alert,' which is set to be delivered to the homes of Taipei residents. Meanwhile, Shen Boyang introduced 'Shun Bao,' outlining his policies. One candidate is seeking re-election, while the other is challenging the incumbent mayor; both must present their achievements and political platforms to persuade voters.

The little boy from 32 years ago is now running for mayor of Taipei!

On October 25, Shen Boyang's 'Yang Liu' campaign convoy made its inaugural trip out of Taipei, arriving at the Nanyao Fishing Port in Hsinchu, where he campaigned alongside the Democratic Progressive Party's Hsinchu mayoral candidate Zhuang Jingcheng. Along the route, many supporters waved and cheered, with some even bringing their children specifically to attend the event.

A mother from Hsinchu brought her two young daughters to the event. In an interview, she mentioned that she was so excited the night before that she couldn't sleep, and she passionately cheered for Shen Boyang during the event. Although these two children do not yet have the right to vote, they are already accompanying their mother to participate in election activities, witnessing how candidates engage with the public.

Shen Boyang himself was once a little boy who followed his parents to elections 32 years ago.

In 1994, Chen Shuibian ran for mayor of Taipei for the first time. At that time, Shen Boyang was around 9 or 10 years old and frequently attended campaign events for the Democratic Progressive Party with his parents. On one occasion, during an event at a junior high school in Taipei, a little boy suddenly ran onto the stage and asked Chen Shuibian's wife, Wu Shuzhen, 'When will A-Bian come?' That little boy was Shen Boyang. Interestingly, in 1994, Chen Shuibian drew number 3 for his mayoral campaign; this year, on October 27, Shen Boyang also drew number 3. Chen Shuibian even shared this nostalgic moment on social media.

Fast forward 32 years, and that little boy has now become a candidate for mayor of Taipei himself. Thirty-two years ago, Shen Boyang participated in elections with his parents; now, he is a candidate. In Taiwan, elections are woven into the fabric of everyday family life. Children can see candidates from a young age, hear them discuss their policies, and when they grow up, they can vote and even run for office themselves.

In contrast, in mainland China, many adults, let alone children, do not even know the name of their mayor.

Chinese citizens are unaware of who their mayor is!

On Chinese social media, a user posed the question: Do you know who the mayor of your city is? Have you ever met your mayor? Some individuals mentioned that they have lived in a city for over a decade and still do not know the mayor's name, let alone have seen them.

Others humorously remarked that some officials are so out of touch that they only learn who they are when they fall from grace due to corruption and make headlines, at which point people realise that this individual is their mayor!

Back in 2013, the China Communist Party News Network published an article titled "Whose Embarrassment is it that the Public 'Doesn't Know the Mayor's Name'?" The article referenced a survey conducted in 30 major Chinese cities with around 6,300 participants, revealing that only 32% of respondents could name their city’s mayor.

This means that nearly 70% of respondents at that time were unaware of who their mayor was.

Interestingly, some Chinese netizens may not recognise their own city’s mayor, yet they are aware that the mayor of Taipei is Jiang Wan'an and that Shen Boyang is running against him. While they are unfamiliar with their own mayor, they are quite engaged with the mayoral election happening across the strait.

Candidates appear as humble as salespeople! This has sparked envy among Chinese netizens.

During previous elections in Taiwan, videos of candidates campaigning on the streets circulated widely on mainland social media. In one instance, a candidate was seen standing by the roadside and, upon spotting a garbage truck, enthusiastically waved to the sanitation workers aboard.

Chinese netizens expressed their admiration, stating: "This is what it means to be elected by the people." Others added: "The votes come from the people, so we must be accountable to them."

Cleaners work diligently every day collecting garbage, but when election season arrives, they, like big business owners and government officials, hold a ballot in their hands. If a candidate aspires to become mayor, they must earn the support of these workers. In Taiwan, some candidates even enter vegetable markets, smiling as they go from stall to stall to solicit votes.

Chinese netizens watching this express their envy, saying, 'Look, aren't you jealous!' Some describe these candidates as 'humble like salespeople!' In mainland China, when ordinary citizens wish to meet with officials about issues, they often have to find ways to gain access.

In contrast, in Taiwan, candidates must proactively enter markets, seeking support from vegetable sellers, fishmongers, cleaners, and passersby. If they want to become mayor or county magistrate, they first need to introduce themselves to the public, explain their plans, and accept scrutiny from voters.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has long claimed to be 'public servants,' yet they often impose their will on the common people. For some Chinese netizens, the sight of Taiwanese candidates hustling through the streets, quietly asking for votes, illustrates what 'public servants' should truly embody.

Do Chinese citizens also have ballots? Yet they don't recognise a single candidate!

The CCP has consistently asserted that the Chinese people have the legal rights to vote, to be elected, and to recall officials. But how do Chinese citizens actually cast their votes? One netizen shared his voting experience, explaining that local village officials informed him to return for the election, so he complied. However, upon arriving and receiving his ballot, he discovered that there were two or three candidates listed, none of whom he recognised!

Who are these candidates? What have they done in the past? What do they plan to do for the villagers once elected? Are there any commitments? The villagers are completely unaware.

Now, let’s look at Taiwan.

On October 31, Jiang Wan'an and Shen Boyang participated in a two-hour television debate. During this debate, they not only had to present their political views publicly but also engage in mutual questioning and respond to inquiries from the media.

Moreover, candidates are required to undergo various media interviews, facing pointed questions from hosts and reporters. Through these debates and interviews, voters can gain insights into the candidates' backgrounds, personalities, political stances, and their governance capabilities. Voters are keenly aware of how well candidates respond and whether their political views are convincing. To aspire to be mayor, one must come before the public, allowing everyone to get to know and understand you, while also accepting their scrutiny.

But what about the citizens of China? They only see the candidates' names for the first time when they receive their ballots. If they don’t even know who the candidates are, how can they decide whom to vote for? The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) claims that China has its own democratic elections, but how much influence does the ballot in the hands of ordinary citizens truly have?

What does the Taiwanese election reveal to the Chinese people?

In this mayoral election in Taiwan, what truly makes Chinese netizens envious is not merely that candidates bow and shake hands with the public, nor is it the vibrant atmosphere at the election site. Instead, it is the fact that the ballot in the hands of ordinary citizens can genuinely determine who will become the mayor.

To become mayor, one must ensure that voters recognise you, publicly articulate your political views, respond to media inquiries and challenges from opponents, and address the issues that are most important to the public. If you perform well, voters may choose to keep you in office; if not, you risk being replaced in the next election.

This encapsulates the true power of the ballot and the fundamental essence of democracy: the authority of officials derives from the people, who have the right to determine who governs them.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) frequently touts the slogan 'the people are the masters of their own house' and claims that officials are 'public servants.' However, it has persistently refused to allow the Chinese populace to directly elect their mayors or governors, much less to choose the highest national leader through free and competitive elections.

Why is this the case? Because if the people genuinely possess the right to choose, officials cannot be accountable solely to their superiors; they must also answer to the electorate. Those in power cannot ensure their perpetual hold on their positions. This starkly contrasts with Taiwan's democratic electoral system, where political power is not monopolised by a single party.

The Taipei mayoral race is now entering its crucial final phase.

On November 2, a poll conducted by the Strategic Research Institute revealed that Shen Boyang leads with a support rate of 52.6%, significantly ahead of Jiang Wan'an, who garnered 35.3%, marking a 17.3 percentage point difference.

However, other polls present varying results. A TVBS survey shows Jiang Wan'an at 46% and Shen Boyang at 42%, while a poll released by ETtoday on November 4 indicates Jiang Wan'an at 50.7% and Shen Boyang at 41.9%. The significant discrepancies among these polls make it difficult to determine a clear frontrunner at this stage.

On November 28, the citizens of Taipei will cast their votes to decide whether Jiang Wan'an continues as mayor or if they will choose Shen Boyang. Regardless of the outcome, the ultimate decision will not be made by Beijing or any party leader, but by the citizens of Taipei themselves. This is what truly makes the ordinary people of China envious.

Now, I would like to ask everyone: If one day, the ordinary people of China could vote for their own mayor just like the people of Taiwan, do you think that day will come? And what changes would take place in Chinese society on that day?

We invite you to share your thoughts in the comments section. This concludes today's episode of 'Forbidden News Decoded.' Thank you for watching, and we look forward to seeing you in the next program. △