KMT's Central Taiwan Candidates Address Air Pollution|藍中部4縣市長參選人 提補助肺癌篩檢

The Kuomintang's mayoral candidate for Taichung City and magisterial candidates for Nantou County, Yunlin County and Changhua County have jointly announced a new policy to reduce air pollution. In response, Taichung City Mayor Lin Chia-lung, who is seeking reelection and whose air pollution control policies have been criticized by his Kuomintang opponents, said he believes the Kuomintang is reversing cause and effect.


Former Premier Simon Chang, Kuomintang Taichung City mayoral candidate Lu Shiow-yen, Nantou County Magistrate Lin Ming-chen and Yunlin County magisterial candidate Chang Li-shan have jointly proposed a new policy to reduce air pollution. The policy includes subsidies for lung cancer screenings. Lu has repeatedly criticized her opponent, incumbent Taichung City Mayor Lin Chia-lung, for his failure to improve the city's air quality. She says residents are extremely discontent.

During Mayor Lin's three years in office, he has made a hideous mess of our air quality. Moreover, he is not brave enough to resist, to negotiate with the central government, to protect the health of our people. He even turns a blind eye. He just hides inside his luxury residence in a building that can withstand PM 2.5. He is mocking the people.

Lu also pointed out the Tsai Ing-wen administration continues to use government instruments to suppress opposition candidates. First, it was the Transitional Justice Commission scandal. Now, it is the Central Election Commission. This shows the administration is getting desperate with regards to the upcoming election. Lin was asked about Lu's comments during a city council interpellation. His response was not courteous at all. He said his opponent was "beating someone up while yelling for help."

There are some people who reverse cause and effect. They create problems, and then we have to solve them. This is very clear. They politicize the air pollution issue, and then call for help while issuing blows. Is this society fair?

Lin added Taichung's air pollution problem was worse before he took office. Environmental Protection Administration monitoring data show Taichung's PM 2.5 level was 27 micrograms per cubic meter of air in 2014. By 2017, the level had fallen to 20.2 micrograms per cubic meter of air, which was lower than the national average of 20.5 micrograms per cubic meter of air. Lin said he has also taken concrete measures to address Taichung Power Plant and mobile sources of pollution, and the air quality has improved accordingly.