TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — United Microelectronics Corp. founder Robert Tsao (曹興誠) on Tuesday urged President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) to nominate DPP Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋) as the party’s candidate in the 2026 Taipei mayoral election.

Tsao said that selecting Shen would demonstrate the DPP’s support for him following threats from the Chinese Communist Party, per Liberty Times. He argued that Lai’s recent appeal for Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) to show solidarity with Shen “appeared performative,” since Han was unlikely to respond.

Tsao praised Shen’s qualifications, popularity, and leadership, saying he could “easily defeat” incumbent Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) in a head-to-head race. He added that the CCP’s attacks on Shen reflected Beijing’s recognition of Shen’s strength.

The UMC founder said nominating Shen would reassure the pro-Taiwan faction about Lai’s personnel decisions and boost the DPP’s electoral prospects in both 2026 and 2028.

In response, Shen said Taiwan’s democracy was more important than “personal matters,” per FTV. DPP Legislator Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤) also praised Tsao’s endorsement but said, as far as she knows, Shen is not currently considering a mayoral run, emphasizing his importance to the legislature’s work on national security issues, per SETN.

Meanwhile, civil groups have also advocated for Shen’s nomination, citing his strong performance during the failed recall elections, in which recall supporting votes reached 40% of total ballots, per UP Media. They argued that while former DPP Secretary-General Lin Yu-chang (林右昌) could consolidate the party’s traditional base, Shen might have a broader appeal among centrist and non-KMT voters.