Taipei's mayoral race is heating up ahead of the 2026 local elections, with incumbent Chiang Wan-an facing pressure over debates and a family controversy.

• Chiang Wan-an registered for re-election and checked the debate option, saying he will talk policy in the right setting and format.
• His challenger, DPP candidate Puma Shen, wants a real debate with cross-questioning and public participation, not just a basic policy presentation.
• The public debate can only include cross-questioning if all four candidates agree, so the format is still unsettled.
• Chiang is under fire over his son's US exchange program, which critics call a conflict-of-interest and procedural problem; he says the program looks at school enrollment, not nationality.
• Chiang is hitting back at the presidential office, accusing the national government of using children and vulnerable groups as election material.

Outlook: Expect the debate fight and the exchange-program row to keep driving the Taipei race in the run-up to the vote.