A dispute has emerged over the invitation list for the upcoming blessing ceremony of the Danjiang Bridge, with allegations that the New Taipei City Government was pointedly excluded from the event scheduled for May 12.
New Taipei City Councilor and KMT spokesperson Jiang Yizhen alleged on Monday that Mayor Hou Yu-ih, as well as the city’s Transportation and Public Works bureaus, were not invited to the ceremony. Jiang criticized the Ministry of Transportation for “selectively forgetting” the local government, noting that the city provided the funding, personnel, effort, and land for the project.
City Government Confirms Absence
Li Lizhen, Director of the New Taipei City Government News Bureau, confirmed that the city administration did not receive an invitation for the blessing ceremony. According to Li, only the local district offices were notified of the activity.
Li stated that Mayor Hou Yu-ih has other scheduled commitments during that time. However, she emphasized that the Mayor remains focused on the bridge’s safe opening and has instructed the New Taipei City Traffic Control Center to closely monitor the situation.
Highway Bureau Clarifies Event Scope
The Highway Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation has refuted the claims of exclusion. The bureau clarified that the primary opening activities had already been completed on May 9.
According to the bureau, the event on May 12 is intended to be a simple blessing ceremony prior to opening the bridge to traffic. The bureau stated that no government agencies, heads of departments, or people’s representatives were invited to attend this specific ritual.
Potential Next Steps
Given the public nature of the accusations, there may be further exchanges between the KMT and the Ministry of Transportation regarding the recognition of local contributions to the project.
Operational cooperation is likely to continue, as city bureaus are already coordinating with the Highway Bureau to ensure traffic and signal management are handled according to the conclusions of the May 11 maintenance meeting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Mayor Hou Yu-ih invited to the May 12 blessing ceremony?
No, the New Taipei City Government confirmed that Mayor Hou was not invited, and only district offices received notifications.
Why did Councilor Jiang Yizhen criticize the Ministry of Transportation?
She argued that the Ministry “selectively forgot” the New Taipei City Government, which contributed land, money, personnel, and effort to the bridge project.
What is the Highway Bureau’s justification for not inviting officials?
The bureau stated that the main opening activities were finished on May 9, and the May 12 event is merely a simple blessing ceremony that does not require the attendance of officials or representatives.
Do you believe ceremonial invitations are a necessary part of inter-government cooperation for major public works?
