The race for Taipei mayor has begun early, with Democratic Progressive Party candidate Puma Shen and the city government trading criticism at a distance — for Taipei residents, more political mudslinging than solutions.

• Taipei Research, Development and Evaluation Commission head Yin Wei said Shen had dodged the tainted cooking oil case, the Neihu flooding and energy issues; Shen shot back that if the city government asks him about everything, it might as well let him be mayor.
• Shen said the tainted oil case requires central-local cooperation, that inspection is a local responsibility, and that he favours linking up data from testing agencies directly.
• On the Neihu flooding, he said he had visited the site several times to inspect the box culverts and drainage ditches, and proposed using an AI system to deliver flood information to residents in real time.
• On energy, he singled out problems with the power grid and substations at the Beitou-Shilin Technology Park, saying the city government took a year before turning in the direction he had set out.
• He brought the focus back to his vision for Nangang: linking up "pearls" such as the Taipei Music Center and the exhibition hall, increasing tree cover, and promoting urban renewal.

Outlook: The Taipei mayoral race will keep heating up, with both sides continuing to trade blame over flood control, energy and food safety in the near term.