The campaigns of DPP candidate Shen Bo-yang and KMT Mayor Chiang Wan-an met TVBS and SET on Oct. 12 and agreed only to include cross-examination; no date was set. Separately, the Central Election Commission explained election-law rules after talk of Shen appearing on a prime-time drama.
According to the Central News Agency, TVBS and SET held a coordination meeting with both campaigns on Oct. 12 to explain the debate's planning and procedures. Both sides agreed to a cross-examination segment, but no date was fixed. The organizers proposed Oct. 31 for the first debate.
광고 문의 · 300×250Chiang's campaign accepted Oct. 31 on the spot and said it had rearranged the mayor's schedule. Shen's representatives could not confirm and said they would take it back for internal discussion. His camp instead suggested Oct. 24, or a weekday or Sunday, arguing there was no need to wait until month's end.
Two camps, two accounts
Shen spokesperson Tsai Yi-kai said Shen wants debates as soon as possible and at least four of them, so that city issues can be split by topic; with Chiang's side not stating how many it would hold, talks could not move to detail. The Shen camp argues that without cross-examination the events would be mere policy statements.
Chiang's Luo Chih-chiang and Yeh Hsiang-yuan said they are open on the number of debates but that the first date should be fixed first. They said Shen had called his debate offer unconditional, so demanding a total count first was inconsistent. The Liberty Times and other outlets reported the Chiang camp accused Shen's side of using debates as a challenge tool and of 'endless challenges'; accounts of the exact remarks vary by outlet.
A media debate and the drama slot
Separately, the Liberty Times, CTV, TTV, FTV and Mirror TV have jointly invited the candidates to a debate. Chiang's camp said it would take part and Shen's camp welcomed that. The United Daily News reported that after appearing on a program hosted by KMT figure Jaw Shaw-kong, Shen joined a livestream with DPP lawmakers, and netizens urged him to try Formosa TV's 8 p.m. drama slot; FTV confirmed it was in talks with his team.
Asked whether such an appearance would breach the Public Officials Election and Recall Act, the Central Election Commission said Article 49, Paragraph 3 requires broadcasters to treat election issues and candidate invitations fairly, without unjustified discrimination. It applies only during the campaign period, which for mayoral races is the 15 days before voting. The commission said it has not ruled on any case and would review one according to law. Whether an appearance has been confirmed is not established.
A third perspective: tussles over debate dates and numbers are common in US and South Korean races too, with front-runners tending to want fewer debates and challengers more. We have attributed each side's account to it; the final date depends on Shen's camp's reply and the broadcasters' coordination.