"COVID-19 Started in Taipei": William Lai 賴清德稱「北市是疫情的開始」 藍白同聲批評

Vice President William Lai recently roused the ire of both mayoral candidates Chiang Wan-an and Vivian Huang when he said COVID-19 started in Taipei. Huang has been calling for a policy debate, but Chiang and Chen Shih-chung don't see the need.

“You + Taipei: The possibilities are endless.”The KMT's Chiang Wan-an is fundraising for his campaign and touting sustainability in the Taipei City mayor race. Chiang and independent candidate Vivian Huang are blasting Vice President William Lai over his recent claim that COVID-19 started in Taipei. Lai made the statement while stumping for the DPP's Chen Shih-chung.

Chiang Wang-an, Taipei City Mayor Candidate (KMT): “This isn't the first time (the DPP) has slandered Taipei residents like this. Chen Shih-chung needs to say, in no uncertain terms, whether he agrees with Vice President William Lai's statement. Don't be afraid to offend your former boss.”

Vivian Huang, Taipei City Mayor Candidate (IND): “Whether (Chen Shih-chung) said that to the vice president or the vice president misunderstood, Taipei residents are owed an explanation. He needs to look into why (the epidemic) happened, and he should get that done before he sets his sights on the mayorship.”

Huang has been calling for a policy debate, while Chiang says candidates can't rely on debate performance to prove themselves. Chen, meanwhile, says winning a debate doesn't make you a winner.

Chen Shih-chung, Taipei City Mayor Candidate (DPP): “Many people think whoever wins a public policy debate wins. Not so. Winning a debate doesn't mean you're a winner. Winning makes you a winner. They are both very articulate people.”

Chen also struck down Lai's claim, saying the pandemic started in Wuhan and that's why it's called the "Wuhan virus." Chen also denied anyone is calling on him to drop out of the race so his votes can go to Huang, and says all he wants is to win 50 percent of the vote.

備戰首都，國民黨台北市長參選人蔣萬安公布募款小物口罩和環保材質的抱枕，跟緊防疫、永續環境議題。針對日前賴清德替民進黨台北市長參選人陳時中站台時，脫口「台北市是疫情的開始」引發譁然，藍白也同聲批評。

國民黨台北市長參選人蔣萬安表示：「（民進黨）羞辱台北市民也不是第1回了，所以請陳時中部長很明確直接的表態，你到底認不認同賴清德副總統的說法，而不要怕得罪你之前的長官。」

無黨籍台北市長參選人黃珊珊也批評：「（陳時中）他給副總統這樣的資訊，或者是說副總統自己誤會了，那副總統要對台北人說一些話吧？（疫情）原因是什麼他要去研究，那就等他研究完再來當市長吧。」

選戰攻防，近來蔣萬安、黃珊珊互批是「讀稿機」。黃珊珊呼籲趕快辯論，對此蔣萬安回應，不用著急都在安排中，也反批不應該只想著透過辯論證明自己。陳時中則認為，「辯贏不是贏，做贏才是贏」。

民進黨台北市長參選人陳時中表示：「很多人都誤以為在公共政策裡面大家的逞口舌之快，以為辯贏就是贏，沒有，辯贏不是贏，做贏才是贏，他們兩位的口才都很好。」

針對賴副總統失言輿情發酵，陳時中重申，疫情起點就在武漢，所以才會稱作武漢病毒。至於「棄保」話題不斷，陳時中也回應，沒有聽過棄陳保黃，選舉目標還是爭取50%市民支持。