On September 4, 2026, a major controversy emerged in Taipei’s grassroots elections. Wang Chien-sheng, a candidate for borough chief of Wufen in the Neihu District, was accused by online reports of having committed sexual assault and having a record of imprisonment. In response to these allegations, Chen Chih-ying, a New Power Party councilor candidate for the Da’an and Wenshan districts and the current borough chief of Huaxing, held a press conference on the same day to harshly criticize Wang’s eligibility to run. Chen pointed out that Wang had previously worked as an assistant in the offices of both Blue and Green camp city councilors, but during his tenure, he used his position and the opportunity of staying in a friend's room to commit sexual assault, a crime for which he was convicted by the court.

Chen Chih-ying emphasized that as borough chiefs serve as the most direct point of contact for the public, individuals with sexual assault convictions clearly fail to meet the moral threshold for holding public office. He also questioned whether Wang, as the son of the incumbent borough chief, intended to use family political resources to extend his influence, and called on local voters and the general public to boycott him to maintain the integrity and safety of grassroots politics.

According to cross-referenced information from multiple sources, the background of Wang Chien-sheng’s former employment as a city council assistant and the fact that he is currently running for Wufen borough chief as an independent candidate have been confirmed by relevant political figures and media reports. The information cited by Chen Chih-ying is primarily based on the content of public court judgments and testimonies from local neighborhood chiefs. Currently, the incident has drawn high levels of attention within the local community, and the questions of whether Wang is eligible to run and whether his past imprisonment record complies with the relevant provisions of the Public Officials Election and Recall Act have become a focal point of discussion in Taipei’s grassroots elections.

Although the allegations of a sexual assault conviction have caused a political stir, the only response regarding Wang Chien-sheng himself comes from media reports stating that his father (the incumbent borough chief) claimed to be "unaware" of the details when questioned, and did not provide specific clarification or rebuttal regarding his son's past judicial record or motivation for running. Furthermore, while media reports mention that Wang "served time in prison," complete information regarding the specific details of the crime committed during his time at the city council and the exact date of the verdict remains subject to further public verification by judicial or election authorities to clarify public concerns.

This incident has had a direct impact on Taipei’s grassroots elections, not only affecting the race in Wufen Borough but also prompting the public to scrutinize the background checks for grassroots public officials such as "borough chiefs." Although borough chiefs are elected officials, their duties involve the allocation of local resources and the safety of residents; if a candidate has a record of serious criminal offenses, it directly affects voter trust and the credibility of local governance. Additionally, Chen Chih-ying’s public criticism has elevated this issue to the level of party politics and electoral ethics, forcing all candidates to face strict scrutiny from voters regarding their integrity and character, which may influence the competitive landscape and voter intentions in subsequent Taipei grassroots elections.

However, the public should remain rational and objective regarding such revelations during the election period. First, a candidate’s eligibility is governed by the "Public Officials Election and Recall Act," and whether they meet the requirements should be determined by the Election Commission in accordance with the law, rather than being judged solely on the accusations of a single political party’s candidate. Second, while a sexual assault conviction is a significant moral flaw, voters should still comprehensively consider a candidate’s policy platform, dedication to service, and performance in local management when casting their ballots. Over-simplifying this event into a single political attack may obscure the essence of public affairs discussions in local elections, and emotional political maneuvering should be avoided until formal announcements are made by judicial and election authorities.

The focus of subsequent observation will be on whether the Taipei City Election Commission will conduct further reviews of Wang Chien-sheng’s eligibility, and whether Wang himself will come forward to address the sexual assault allegations in response to voter concerns. Furthermore, as the election date approaches, whether other candidates will follow up by taking a stance on this case, and the reactions of local voters in Wufen Borough to such controversies, will be key variables in determining the final election results in that district. The INN editorial department will continue to track relevant judicial progress and official announcements from election authorities to provide readers with the most timely and accurate information.