KMT and TPP form cross-party alliance to support Kao Hung-an in Hsinchu mayoral race

The deployment for the Hsinchu mayoral race has sent shockwaves through the political arena, as incumbent Mayor Kao Hung-an’s campaign headquarters and supporters' association held a grand inauguration ceremony today, drawing massive crowds of enthusiastic supporters and displaying high morale. The most anticipated highlight of the event was the gathering of core high-level figures from both the pan-Blue and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) camps, including Kuomintang (KMT) Chairperson Cheng Li-wen, TPP Founding Chairperson Ko Wen-je, TPP Chairperson Huang Kuo-chang, and Taichung Mayor Lu Hsiu-yen, all of whom personally attended to endorse and support her. Such a cross-party gathering of heavyweights not only showcased the subtle political alignment in the local election, but also solidified the consensus for cooperation within the non-green camp in the technological hub of Hsinchu City, bringing pivotal changes to the upcoming race.

During the speeches at the event, KMT Chairperson Cheng Li-wen's stance drew particular attention. She explicitly stated that in the upcoming Hsinchu mayoral election, the KMT will adopt a stance of 100 percent support for Kao Hung-an's re-election bid. In past local autonomy elections, the KMT and TPP camps often had their own calculations regarding nomination strategies and even competed in certain districts. However, Cheng's commitment of full support on behalf of the KMT central system demonstrates that when facing strong political opponents, the opposition camp deeply understands that only through unity and integration can the chances of winning be maximized. This decision, personally endorsed at the party chairperson level, is tantamount to incorporating Kao into the joint defensive line of the pan-Blue grand alliance, which will be decisively beneficial for consolidating the KMT's grassroots vote.

In addition to the KMT's endorsement, the TPP's core leadership turned out in full force, demonstrating high regard for Kao. TPP Founding Chairperson Ko Wen-je, serving as a political mentor and spiritual leader for Hsinchu City, personally attended the scene to boost morale for his protégé, calling on supporters to continue the reform momentum of the past. Meanwhile, incumbent TPP Chairperson Huang Kuo-chang also appeared to show support, using his consistently sharp political rhetoric to defend Kao's administrative achievements and criticize the ruling party for unfair distribution of central resources. This dual-core reinforcement not only stabilized internal cohesion within the TPP, but also conveyed to the outside world the party's absolute ambition to govern Hsinchu City—the nation's technology capital—leaving no room for failure.

Notably, Taichung Mayor Lu Hsiu-yen's cross-county appearance added a strong central Taiwan "mother hen" effect to the rally. Lu enjoys exceptionally high prestige and governance satisfaction within the KMT; she appeared in Hsinchu with her governance experience as a female executive and her warm image, which not only boosted support for Kao among women and moderate voters, but also endorsed Kao's handling of municipal promotion through the concept of "governance in tandem." Lu's presence effectively demonstrated cross-county pan-Blue joint governance, elevating Kao's campaign tone from mere political squabbling to the level of urban governance accomplishments, which helps win the recognition of more rational voters.

Looking at the overall political landscape, the inauguration of Kao's campaign headquarters, which brought together the most representative heavyweight political figures from both the KMT and the TPP, symbolizes the practical implementation of the non-green camp seeking the greatest common denominator in local elections. Due to the characteristics of its high-tech industrial cluster, Hsinchu City has long featured a highly rational voter structure and rapidly fluid party loyalties, making it a fiercely contested battleground. The simultaneous decision by KMT and TPP elites to fully endorse Kao reflects a further local electoral tacit understanding following their legislative cooperation experiences. This cross-party integration force not only directly impacts the ruling green camp's original strategic deployment, but also writes the latest footnote of integration triumphing over division in Taiwan's current party politics. With the official establishment of the campaign headquarters, the gunpowder smoke of the Hsinchu mayoral race has been fully ignited, and subsequent strategic maneuvers and policy incentives from all camps will become the decisive factors in determining victory or defeat. (Source of facts: Central News Agency)