Taipei Mayor's Wife and Councilor Engage in Public Spat Over COVID-19 Response

Taipei Mayor's wife, Peggy Chen, has been at odds with City Councilor Chien Hsu-pei over the city's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Chen criticized the government's claim that it warned the World Health Organization (WHO) about human-to-human transmission of the virus, calling it "far-fetched." The exchange escalated into a public feud, with Chen releasing more Facebook posts defending her right as a doctor to express opinions on the pandemic and the WHO. Councilor Chien responded by asking the mayor to rein in his wife's comments, which she said were affecting the city government's image.

Key Takeaways:

• Taipei Mayor's wife, Peggy Chen, disagreed with the city's claim that it warned the WHO about possible human-to-human transmission of COVID-19, calling it "far-fetched."
• Chen defended her right as a doctor to express opinions on the pandemic and the WHO, stating that she was not working for the city government and not on its payroll.
• Councilor Chien Hsu-pei responded by asking Mayor Ko to intervene, stating that Chen's comments were unbecoming and affecting the city government's image.
• When Chen pointed out that doctors are entitled to express their opinions, the councilor posted a counterattack on Facebook, criticizing Chen's behavior and its impact on the city government.
• Mayor Ko eventually interjected, suggesting that his wife "talk less" about the issue.
• The exchange highlights the tension between Taiwan's government and its citizens regarding the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Statistics:

• None mentioned.

Sources:

• China Times
• Mirror Media