TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei City Government Parks and Street Lights Office Director Lan Shu-fan (藍舒凢) on Sunday rejected online claims that the city removed trees to help hostile drones conduct reconnaissance.
Public debate over Taipei's tree removal program has intensified in recent weeks, with some residents criticizing the city government for what they viewed as excessive removals. In one example, netizens criticized Mayor Chiang Wan-an's (蔣萬安) administration after a row of trees was removed along Shishang Road, per Taiwan FactCheck Center. The city later clarified that the trees were on private land and had damaged the sidewalk.
The latest allegations claimed the city removed more than 4,000 trees between 2024 and 2025 to facilitate reconnaissance by hostile drones, per CNA. An online post asserted that trees had been removed near facilities considered critical to Taiwan's resilience, including police stations, fire stations, hospitals, and disaster prevention parks.
Lan dismissed the allegations, saying the removals were carried out to improve public safety, per Liberty Times. She noted that when Typhoon Kong-rey struck Taipei in 2024, about 2,800 trees were toppled, causing property damage, obstructing traffic, and delaying recovery efforts.
Lan added that her office would work with the Taipei City Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division to collect evidence of any potential violations of the Social Order Maintenance Act related to the spread of false information.
Citing data from her office, Lan said that of the 3,164 trees removed in 2025, about 80% were taken down because they had died, decayed, been damaged by pests or disease, or were affected by natural disasters. The remaining 20% were removed for reasons including damage to asphalt pavement and involvement in traffic accidents.
Lan stressed that the city planted 13,225 trees between 2025 and 2026.
