Rookie Taiwan lawmaker blacklisted by Beijing makes long-shot bid to become Taipei mayor

A first-term lawmaker who was blacklisted by Beijing over his alleged support for Taiwanese independence will challenge Taipei’s popular incumbent mayor in the local elections later this year.The ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s decision to nominate Puma Shen Pao-yang, an outspoken critic of Beijing whose political identity has been built around his calls to strengthen the island’s security, came as a surprise to many.The former academic joined politics only two years ago, entering the legislature via the party list system, which allocates seats on a proportional basis. Many observers have questioned why the ruling party nominated him.