The long-distance exchange of fire between Puma Shen, the Democratic Progressive Party's candidate for Taipei mayor, and Chiang Wan-an's city government is intensifying — a setback for the blue camp's offensive, and for the green camp a chance to seize back control of the agenda.

• Yin Wei, head of Taipei's Research, Development and Evaluation Commission, criticised Shen for dodging the tainted cooking oil case, the flooding in Neihu and energy issues. Shen shot back that Chiang Wan-an is the sitting mayor, and if everything has to be referred to Shen, it would be quicker for him to be mayor himself.
• Shen said the tainted oil case involves central-local cooperation, with inspection responsibility resting at the local level, and argued that the interfaces between testing agencies should be linked up directly.
• On flood prevention in Neihu, he said he has visited the site repeatedly, and that the key is to use an AI flood-prevention system to deliver early-warning information to residents in real time. He said claims that he had not responded were fabrications.
• On energy, he singled out the power grid at the Beitou-Shilin Technology Park as Taipei's biggest current problem, saying the substation plan was one he proposed first and that the city government reversed course and accepted it a week later.
• He also set out a vision for the Nangang-Neihu area, aiming to link up landmarks in Nangang such as the Taipei Music Center and the exhibition hall, add green space connecting to the Nangang mountain range, and address urban renewal.

Outlook: With the year-end local elections counting down, the two sides' clashes over city administration and their war of words are expected to keep heating up, and Shen will continue working the grassroots to shore up his base.