Will the DPP Use the Tzu Chi Vaccine Scandal to 'Clear Chen Shih-chung's Name' and Rescue Election Prospects in 3 Cities? Analysts Warn of a Fatal Flaw: Even the Echo Chamber Can't Be Held

The Tzu Chi Foundation recently faced controversy after reports emerged that over NT$1 billion had been lost to fraud. The incident quickly escalated into a new political battleground. DPP Taipei mayoral candidate Shen Po-yang, Hsinchu mayoral candidate Chuang Ching-cheng, and Nantou county magistrate candidate Wen Shih-cheng have all joined the discussion, with some within the DPP believing this issue could prompt the public to reevaluate government policies during the pandemic and positively impact election prospects in Taipei, Hsinchu, and Nantou.

In response, political commentator Li Yixiu, known as 'History Bro,' stated on the program 'Big News, Big Explosion' that if the DPP attempts to reframe the narrative around Chen Shih-chung and the vaccine issue, it may backfire and instead awaken voters' negative memories of past pandemic policies.

The controversy over Tzu Chi's loss of over NT$1 billion continues to expand, with the DPP leveraging it as a campaign issue. Candidates Shen Po-yang, Chuang Ching-cheng, and Wen Shih-cheng have successively spoken out on the vaccine topic, arguing that the government's strict oversight of procurement channels during the pandemic was necessary. Some DPP figures assess that this issue could foster public understanding of former Health Minister Chen Shih-chung and the government's pandemic response team, weaken the opposition, and provide a boost to the DPP's electoral chances in Taipei, Hsinchu, and Nantou.

However, Li Yixiu cautioned that the DPP's attempt to capitalize on this issue may not yield the expected benefits and could even affect the 2028 presidential election. He suggested the DPP may underestimate public perception of Chen Shih-chung's performance during the pandemic. Looking back at the 2022 Taipei mayoral race, which featured a three-way contest, Chiang Wan-an ultimately won, indicating that while Chen enjoyed high popularity early in the pandemic, many voters had already formed fixed opinions about him as debates over防疫 policies and vaccine procurement unfolded.

Li emphasized that complete records of past statements, news reports, and videos remain online, making it extremely difficult for the DPP to alter established perceptions through current narratives alone. He also criticized the conflation of two distinct issues: 'being defrauded' and 'successfully obtaining vaccines.' He argued that if the government had established a more robust centralized mechanism for vaccine procurement at the time, it might have reduced the risks faced by civil groups seeking alternative channels, thereby lowering the likelihood of fraud.

Furthermore, Li bluntly stated, 'The DPP can't even hold its own echo chamber anymore.' He stressed that the key variable shaping the overall election outcome will not be how the DPP reframes the vaccine issue, but whether the KMT and TPP can achieve coordination and integration in key constituencies. If the blue and white camps can field jointly endorsed candidates in critical counties and cities, the DPP's electoral prospects will face even greater pressure.

More exclusive reports from Storm Media: · The vaccine broker who defrauded Tzu Chi of NT$1 billion once targeted Foxconn? He reviewed the indictment and identified one suspicious point—Guo Tai-ming saw through it and firmly refused · Did Tzu Chi's 'Master' sense something was wrong during the vaccine purchase? Chang Jing-sen raises two red flags and criticizes the CEO's negligence: How could they be so easily deceived? · Tzu Chi lost NT$1 billion in a vaccine purchase scam! Chen Shih-chung demands an apology from critics—Yang Du cites an old article and fires back: If the government hadn't blocked it, would this have happened?