From criminal law academic to frontline defender against information warfare

Health · Published 9 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Puma Shen has transitioned from studying the mechanics of crime to combating modern cognitive operations. Once a valedictorian specializing in criminal law, he now navigates the volatile intersection of international law, legislative politics, and the struggle against foreign disinformation in Taiwan.

Born in Taipei on June 7, 1982, Shen Pao-yang—widely known as Puma Shen—has built a career centered on the complexities of law and society. After graduating as valedictorian from National Taiwan University in 2004, he pursued advanced legal studies in the United States, earning an LL.M. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2007 and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Irvine, in 2017. His doctoral research specifically examined how local ideologies influence the punishment of white-collar crime in the U.S. and China.

Shen’s academic focus on criminology eventually evolved into a specialized study of information warfare. As a faculty member at National Taipei University, he initiated research into cognitive operations and Beijing's influence. To address these threats, he co-founded the Kuma Academy, a civil defense organization designed to educate the public on resisting disinformation. He also developed the China Index, a metric created to illustrate the depth of the Chinese government's influence on various regions.

His political career has been marked by significant friction. After winning a seat in the Legislative Yuan in January 2024 as a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) nominee, he became a target of Chinese authorities. In October 2024, he was sanctioned by China's Taiwan Affairs Office. By October 2025, Chinese state media reported that the Chongqing public security bureau was investigating him for secession-related activities. Taiwanese officials have characterized such legal maneuvers as attempts to exert long-arm jurisdiction and instill fear through transnational repression.

Looking forward, Shen remains a central figure in Taiwanese politics. Following his service in the Legislative Yuan, the DPP nominated him for the Taipei mayoral election scheduled for late 2026.

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