Blue camp's Changhua campaign faces integration test; Zheng Liwen calls for unity.

The election countdown has turned the focus of observers onto the auxiliary campaign strategies and the integration of local factions across the political spectrum. The Kuomintang’s (KMT) candidate for Chang‑Chang County magistrate, Wei Pingzheng, held a grand inauguration ceremony for his campaign headquarters today, drawing a large crowd of supporters and creating a atmosphere of unity and determination to win. Yet the highly publicised rally was marked by the conspicuous absence of the incumbent county magistrate, Wang Huimei, prompting speculation about the progress of local Blue‑camp integration and intra‑party dynamics.

Addressing the gathering, KMT chairperson Zheng Liwen, who attended specifically to lend her support, called for “family harmony, all affairs prosper” in Chang‑Chang, emphasizing that only through united effort can the party secure victory in the fiercely contested race. Zheng said she was deeply moved by the sight of Wei’s family mobilising together to assist in what she described as a “difficult campaign.” She used the family’s solidarity as a metaphor for the broader Blue‑camp political ecology in Chang‑Chang, stressing that the KMT must uphold “family harmony, all affairs prosper” throughout the county. Although she did not name any specific party members or the absent magistrate Wang, her remarks were widely interpreted by local political insiders as a pointed appeal, laden with both moral exhortation and political expectations, aimed at smoothing over any existing disagreements and integration challenges.

Chang‑Chang County has long been a pivotal battleground in Taiwanese politics, where local cliques and kin‑based networks intertwine, and contests between the Blue and Green camps are traditionally intense. The alignment of intra‑party factions often proves decisive in determining the election outcome. Wei’s candidacy not only faces a strong challenge from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) opponent, but also hinges on the party’s ability to forge consensus and consolidate local forces—a strategic priority for the campaign. Observers note that Wang’s continued non‑attendance at campaign events, including today’s headquarters launch, subtly signals possible reshuffling of local power blocs or adjustments driven by specific political considerations, prompting the central party leadership to intervene and address the situation.

Zheng’s personal trip south to Chang‑Chang to host the event demonstrated the central party’s emphasis on the county’s race and its full backing of Wei’s campaign. One of her core tasks was to act as a binding force, attempting to repair or stabilise local political relationships. In Taiwanese mayoral and magistrate contests, a party chair’s direct involvement in coordination and rallying is often intended to send a strong signal of unity to grassroots supporters, preventing internal discord from undermining the campaign. Zheng’s public appeal at the headquarters inauguration served both as a concrete endorsement of Wei’s team and as a warm‑hearted message to other key local figures, urging them to set aside personal or factional interests in favour of the KMT’s broader objectives.

With the official establishment of the campaign headquarters, Wei’s team has entered a new phase of full‑scale thrust. However, the race’s subsequent development will depend not only on the candidate’s policy platform and ground‑ and aerial‑campaign tactics, but also on the stance of senior party figures and influential local actors, which remain significant variables shaping the electoral trajectory. The political impact of Wang’s absence from the headquarters launch, and whether it will shift as the contest intensifies, will be a key indicator of whether the Blue camp can truly achieve the “family harmony, all affairs prosper” that Zheng articulated.

(Fact source: Central News Agency)