Hou recalls hostage crisis, vows better mental health aid

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Kuomintang (KMT) presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih and vice presidential candidate Jaw Shaw-kong on Monday (Dec. 4) recounted their first encounter during Taiwan's first bus hostage crisis in 1998.

Speaking at the press conference, Hou referenced the incident, announcing a plan to enhance mental health support programs for young people.

He revealed that the crisis unfolded when Chen Neng-ping, then 34 years old and suffering from schizophrenia, armed with a knife, took a bus driver and over 20 passengers hostage, demanding to meet with UFO Radio host Jaw and then-legislator Hau Lung-bin.

Hou, the Criminal Investigation Bureau's deputy director at the time, was tasked by the head of the National Police Agency (NPA) to negotiate directly with Chen.

During the negotiations, Hou discovered that Chen was schizophrenic and had two snipers on standby with orders to shoot if necessary.

Hau and Jaw later arrived to assist in the negotiation, with Jaw calming the passengers and Hao engaging in dialogue with Chen, which helped defuse the situation.

Hou, who established seven mental health centers during his tenure in New Taipei City, pledged to elevate mental health policies to the Executive Yuan level if elected as president, focusing on the youth demographic.

The presidential hopeful encouraged individuals with mental illnesses and their families to seek medical help and mentioned New Taipei City's efforts to promote mental health care to build a robust social safety net.