KMT's Hsieh Lung-chiu campaigns at Shanhua cattle market, urging increased childcare subsidies

In the upcoming local elections scheduled for October, the Tainan mayoral race is regarded as a crucial battlefield for the Kuomintang (KMT) to contest political influence in southern Taiwan. Hsieh Lung-chieh, the KMT's mayoral candidate for Tainan, has launched tours across various communities to consolidate grassroots support and communicate his policy proposals to voters. His recent vote-canvassing event at the Shanhua Niuxu (cattle market) is a concrete action to further expand his influence in this core southern region. As an important intersection of agriculture and commerce in Tainan, and with the Niuxu serving as a hub for local daily life, campaigning on election day not only reaches a large number of voters but also directly addresses the needs of farmers and small business owners, demonstrating Hsieh's focus on practical local issues.

At the Niuxu site, Hsieh not only interacted warmly with citizens present, but also explained through practical actions his "child-rearing growth subsidy" program. The plan aims to increase the subsidy amount to reduce family child-rearing costs, encourage childbirth, and improve the growth environment for children. This move echoes the KMT's long-standing "family-oriented policies," emphasizing government support and care for families. In addition, he mentioned raising the "Chung Yang Respecting the Elderly Allowance" to NT$3,000, thereby improving the quality of life for seniors and responding to public expectations for long-term care and senior welfare. The introduction of these two policies precisely aligns with Tainan residents' emphasis on family and elderly welfare, while providing voters with tangible policy directions.

In addition to personal welfare policies, Hsieh also mentioned in his speech at the Niuxu his vision to "deepen Tainan-Kaohsiung cooperation," calling on KMT Kaohsiung mayoral candidate Ko Chih-en to jointly promote the coordinated development of the southern region. The term "Tainan-Kaohsiung" refers to the cooperation between the two important cities of Tainan and Kaohsiung. By sharing resources and coordinating development strategies, the initiative aims to form complementary advantages in transportation, economy, culture, and other aspects. This strategy can not only enhance the competitiveness of the two cities in the national political arena, but also bring more economies of scale in public infrastructure and economic revitalization to the southern region. For the KMT, through Tainan-Kaohsiung cooperation, a more cohesive voter base can be formed in the local elections, creating a powerful southern faction within the party.

This appeal and policy declaration also reflect the KMT's attempt in this local election to reshape the party's commitment to local governance, centered on "local practicalities" and "regional coordination." Compared to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the KMT's traditional influence in the south is relatively deep-rooted, but in recent years it has also faced challenges such as population aging and the outflow of youth. By increasing child-rearing subsidies and raising allowances for the elderly, Hsieh's policies can not only alleviate public anxiety regarding social welfare, but also gain broad resonance in the election. If he can successfully coordinate efforts with Ko Chih-en to form a joint force on economic and social issues between the two southern cities, it will have a positive impact on the overall electoral landscape.