Slams Yilan HSR! Chang Ching-sen Hints at Running for Yilan County Magistrate: 'Friends Keep Pushing Me'

Chang Ching-sen, former政务委员 and long-time advocate of the Beiyi Direct Rail, has fiercely criticized the high-speed rail (HSR) extension to Yilan as a 'costly policy that fails to solve transportation problems,' and announced his withdrawal from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). On the 27th, Chang revealed in a Facebook video that close friends in Yilan have been 'constantly pressuring me to run for Yilan County Magistrate.'

Chang stated that several close friends in Yilan have urged him to transfer his household registration to Yilan. They told him, 'You keep criticizing the Yilan HSR project—why don't you move your registration to Yilan?' They've even arranged for him to register in Jiaoxi, hoping he will speak up for the Beiyi Direct Rail proposal. 'They keep pushing me to run for county magistrate,' he said.

Chang noted that these Yilan friends were involved in the county's comprehensive development planning during the tenure of former Yilan County Magistrate Chen Ding-nan and are genuinely concerned about Yilan's future. Their voices are now being ignored by the ruling authorities, so he feels compelled to speak out. Regarding his friends' push to 'throw him into the fire' by running for office, Chang admitted he hasn't ruled it out but believes it could be a waste of time.

He suggested that these friends first approach the two major party candidates. If both candidates are not rigidly opposed to alternatives and are willing to consider converting the already-planned HSR corridor into a TRA speed-up system (direct rail), and use the 150 billion NT dollars saved to elevate the railway lines along Yilan and build transfer-friendly public transport systems at each station—thus improving overall transportation convenience—then their goal would already be achieved.

Chang added that while the two parties' thinking seems rigid, he hasn't ruled out going to Yilan that very afternoon to register as a candidate. Running, he said, is exhausting and not something he particularly wants to do, but he hopes both major candidates can respond reasonably—not necessarily agreeing immediately, but at least showing willingness to consider the direct rail alternative. If both candidates express serious consideration of the Beiyi Direct Rail as an alternative, then those dissatisfied with the HSR plan may not need to nominate a separate candidate for this election.

For more exclusive insights from Storm Media: - Why oppose Yilan HSR? Chang presents 5 arguments: 'Is 400 billion worth it? The Ministry of Transportation knows the answer.' - Chang again slams Yilan HSR as a 'wrong investment'—reveals: 'Many in the DPP disagree, but dare not speak up.' - Chang quits party in anger—what's wrong with the Beiyi HSR? He reveals 3 fatal flaws: 'What would Chen Ding-nan think if he were still alive?'