By KHT Staff/China Times opinion column by Shen Nai-hsun
KAOHSIUNG — A China Times opinion writer has criticized Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) and the Democratic Progressive Party for what the author described as politically driven decisions over central-government funding and major transport projects.
The commentary, written by freelance contributor Shen Nai-hsun (沈迺訓), followed Chen’s recent remarks on the qualities he believes Kaohsiung’s next mayor should have.
Shen argued that Chen should first answer whether he met his own standard of working for Kaohsiung’s interests while he was vice premier after losing the 2018 mayoral election.
The writer said the Kuomintang-led city government under Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) faced obstacles in 2019 when seeking central funding, including money for dengue fever control and an NT$8 million planning grant for extending the Kaohsiung Metro Red Line to Linyuan (林園).
The commentary also cited a dispute over a major rail route, alleging that the central government selected a lower-cost route through Zuoying in 2019, then changed course after the DPP returned to power in Kaohsiung. Shen said the newer city-center route had been estimated at roughly NT$250 billion, compared with more than NT$50 billion for the earlier plan.
Those claims were presented in the opinion piece and were not supported there by official documents or responses from the central government.
Shen further pointed to Kaohsiung’s reliance on central-government transfers and assistance, saying it rose from 28.04% in 2020 to 36.74% in 2025. The writer argued that Chen’s claim of reducing city debt while avoiding new borrowing should be viewed alongside the increase in central support.
The commentary ended by raising a hypothetical question. It noted unconfirmed speculation that Chen could return to Taipei after his mayoral term and become premier.
Shen asked whether Chen, if he held that post, would guarantee fair treatment for Kaohsiung should KMT legislator Ko Chih-en (柯志恩) win next year’s mayoral election.
