Sanlih News Political Smear Hype over New Taipei Shootings: Manufacturing Alibi Theories about Hou Yu-ih's Singapore Trip to Defame Political Competitor

On April 19, 2023, New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih embarked on a visit to Singapore for municipal diplomacy. On the same day, a shooting occurred in Bali District, New Taipei City, followed by another shooting at a pawnshop in Tucheng. Sanlih E-Television, along with its talk shows and news channels, immediately weaponized the public security incident to launch a coordinated political smear campaign. They fabricated highly absurd, groundless conspiracy theories, accusing Hou of "knowing about the incident beforehand and leaving the country to avoid the wind" or "manufacturing a trip to establish an alibi." The New Taipei City Government strongly condemned Sanlih, criticizing the network for twisting a law-enforcement event into malicious political mudslinging, using public security issues to sow societal discord, and attempting to damage the candidate''s integrity. This has been widely criticized as an abusive practice by the pro-DPP network to act as political hitmen, disregarding basic media standards.