A Taipei mayoral candidate says a US magazine twisted his words about Taiwan's army, and he warns the story damages Taiwan's image abroad.

• The Atlantic ran a piece asking whether Taiwan will give up, quoting Puma Shen saying people see military service as a waste of time.
• Shen says the quote describes the old army before reform — the era of busywork like cutting grass — not today's forces.
• He says his team recorded the full interview, and the parts about reforms, tougher reservist call-ups, and new drone training were cut out.
• He also rejects the article's framing of his legal alternative service as dodging the draft.
• His bigger worry is the message it sends: that Taiwan won't fight, at a moment when that perception matters.

Outlook: Shen is pressing The Atlantic to explain the piece, and the fight over how willing Taiwan is to defend itself will keep running through his campaign.