A mayoral campaign video promising to install bidet toilet seats in Taipei public restrooms was pulled on Sept. 3 after the proposal by former minister of health and welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) — the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) candidate for Taipei mayor — drew a backlash from the public and political opponents.
The video promised bidets in public restrooms if Chen is elected as mayor, but a scene in which he is depicted peeping over the stall to deliver a bidet seat to a man in a public restroom prompted accusations of sexual harassment and voyeurism.
In response to the uproar, Chen apologized for the video, saying that it had been edited and had not been intended to evoke instances of sexual harassment.
However, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安), the party’s candidate for Taipei mayor, attacked Chen for exploiting women’s fear of harassment, adding that people care more about the frequency of cleaning and maintenance of public restrooms.
Former Taipei deputy mayor Vivian Huang (黃珊珊), who is seeking the top job as an independent candidate, said that Chen’s proposal was “fancy, but impractical,” and the focus should be on management and maintenance of public spaces.
So far, Chen — a candidate with little political experience outside the field of public health — has been gaining momentum in his campaign. To reach young voters, Chen’s campaign strategy has been to collaborate with Internet celebrities and create playful scenes in which Chen “acts cute,” as also intended in this disastrous promotional video.
The incident could be a canary in the coal mine for the DPP, as it was more than just a misjudgment of content. Aside from stepping on the political landmines of sexual harassment and voyeurism, it shows that if Chen does not work more on underscoring the rationale and benefits of his proposals, his attention-seeking gimmicks could only get him so far. Despite having Internet celebrity Liu Yu (劉宇席), who goes by the nickname 4XCat (四叉貓), as a guest in the video, the negative feedback shows that celebrities are not an antidote to everything.
For the past two years, Chen’s dignified and composed image as health minister has been engraved in the public’s mind. To build rapport with voters from different backgrounds and ages, Chen has been shaking off his austere image by engaging in activities such as visiting gay bars and the nation’s annual comic exhibition. Criticized for “putting on a show” by Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), Chen would have to be careful not to cross the line between showmanship and amiability, as too much pageantry could trigger a reverse effect.
Campaign strategy aside, Chen’s policy is not without merits. As the cleanliness of public toilets often leaves an impression on tourists, as shown by the international reception to high-tech toilets in Japan, it would be an advantage for Taipei to have bidets in its public restrooms. Even though the policy was attacked for being impractical, it is feasible if Chen also accounts for increased maintenance requirements.
Chen’s proposal shows his consideration for public hygiene and health. However, he should tread carefully when it comes to seeking support with young people and remember that nothing beats winning supporters over like well-rounded, solid policies.
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