A rumor that Taipei's subway removed poles and seats to make room for Chinese soldiers has been knocked down by the transit operator, and the fight over it is now a campaign issue.

• Taipei Metro said a doctored photo spread online claiming the layout change had a military purpose, and it is threatening to report the posts to police.
• The company says taking out some fixed seats creates more open, accessible space and boosts capacity — a common move in subway systems worldwide.
• Puma Shen, the DPP candidate for Taipei mayor, said debunking is fine but the rumor took hold because the city never explained the change clearly.
• He wants the city to lead with clear explanations instead of threatening lawsuits after rumors spread, pointing to an earlier unexplained tree removal as the same pattern.
• His practical fix: if you pull out poles and seats, add enough hanging straps so riders can hold on and move deeper into the car.

Outlook: Expect the seat redesign and the city's handling of public explanations to keep feeding the Taipei mayoral race.