Cheng Li-wen visits Pingtung to back KMT, aiming to reverse green dominance.

The countdown to the local elections has entered its final, intense phase, with the political atmosphere heating up rapidly across Taiwan. Zheng Liwen, Vice Chairwoman of the Kuomintang (KMT), traveled south to Pingtung specifically to campaign for Su Qingquan, the KMT-nominated candidate for Pingtung County Magistrate, and Zhou Jiaqi, the incumbent Pingtung City Mayor seeking re-election. During the rally that evening, Zheng delivered a passionate speech, noting that with fewer than 50 days remaining until Election Day, the race has entered its final sprint and close-quarters combat phase. She specifically addressed the structural issue of population outflow that has long plagued Pingtung, urging Pingtung natives working or studying in other counties and cities to return home on Election Day to cast their votes. She called on these expatriates to support candidates who are genuinely committed to fighting for Pingtung and safeguarding its future.

Pingtung County has traditionally been viewed as a stronghold for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Taiwan’s political landscape. The DPP has governed the region for many years, accumulating a solid political foundation and robust local organizational mobilization capabilities. However, the KMT has been seeking breakthroughs in recent years, aiming to expand its influence in southern Taiwan. This time, the KMT has once again fielded Su Qingquan, a medical professional with deep roots in the local area, to challenge the existing DPP-dominated political map by leveraging his years of grassroots management of medical resources and dedicated public service. Meanwhile, Mayor Zhou Jiaqi shoulders the critical responsibility of defending Pingtung City, one of the KMT’s few key beachheads in Pingtung County. The outcome of the mayoral race is seen as an indicator of the KMT’s momentum in the region. Zheng’s personal decision to travel south for cross-district campaigning underscores the KMT Central Headquarters’ high regard for the Pingtung race, as the party hopes to boost the profile of its candidates and unify local supporters through the endorsement of heavyweight political figures.

In her speech at the rally, Zheng directly targeted the most pressing social and economic pain points in Pingtung: population outflow and resource allocation. Due to slow industrial transformation and a relative scarcity of job opportunities, many young people from Pingtung have been forced to leave their hometowns after high school or college graduation to seek employment or education in metropolitan areas such as Kaohsiung, Taichung, and Taipei. This outflow has subjected Pingtung to the dual pressures of declining birth rates and an aging population, while also directly affecting the voting structure of local elections. For both the KMT and DPP camps, effectively stimulating the return-and-vote behavior of this expatriate demographic—who are not typically resident at their registered addresses but wield significant influence during critical moments—often becomes one of the biggest variables in determining victory. By choosing the critical 50-day mark to publicly urge expatriate voters to return, Zheng seized what is arguably the most strategically significant factor in this election.

Reviewing Su Qingquan’s political trajectory and local groundwork, his background as a physician has allowed him to be deeply involved in medical and public welfare initiatives in Pingtung for years, giving him a profound understanding of grassroots health care needs and living conditions. Although Su lost the previous county magistrate election, his vote count and demonstrated grassroots strength revealed to the KMT the possibility of a turnaround in Pingtung. Consequently, the party has entrusted him with the responsibility again in this election, hoping he will center his campaign on “Caring for Pingtung,” emphasizing economic growth, improved medical resources, and retaining local youth, to directly challenge the DPP’s long-term rule. Meanwhile, Mayor Zhou Jiaqi has actively promoted municipal construction and local prosperity during her tenure, attempting to leverage her track record to gain citizen recognition and support. By combining the rallies for these two candidates, Zheng aims to create a multiplier effect, allowing the county and city races to boost each other and form a dense, united campaign front.

As the election enters its countdown phase, the situation in Pingtung has become highly tight, with mobilization efforts and propaganda tactics from all camps becoming more frequent and intense. The successive southward visits by prominent KMT figures not only demonstrate a united determination to secure victory but also aim to break through the DPP’s long-standing structural barriers in the region through agenda-setting and emotional cohesion. For voters in Pingtung, facing heavy challenges such as future urban development, economic transformation, and population outflow, the most important consideration when casting their votes will be selecting leaders who can truly implement their platforms and bring change to the locality. As Zheng’s call for expatriate voting gains traction, the ability of each camp to successfully boost the turnout of voters from outside the county will become the most critical variable in determining the final outcome of the Pingtung County Magistrate and Pingtung City Mayor races.

(Source: CNA)