Kuomintang rejects anti-party tactics as Ko Wen-je urges separate pushes for voter support

As the election enters its final countdown, the political landscape in Hsinchu County is often fraught with the tension of tactical maneuvers and alliances between local factions and political parties. In response to remarks made by Kuomintang (KMT) Hsinchu County Chapter Chairman and Hsinchu County Magistrate Yang Wen-ke, who publicly called on voters to reject rhetoric that "waves the blue flag while attacking the blue camp," Taiwan People's Party (TPP) Founding Chairman Ko Wen-je addressed the media to offer his perspective. Ko stated that this is an internal KMT matter, emphasizing that during the crucial final stage of the election, each political party and candidate must focus on their own earnest campaigns to win the recognition and support of voters. This political clash in Hsinchu County not only highlights the delicate relationship of both competition and cooperation between the pan-Blue and TPP camps at the grassroots level, but also reflects the complex phenomenon of shifting political plates in Taiwan's local elections.

The controversy stems from the unique structural dynamics of the local elections in Hsinchu County. Hsinchu County has long been regarded as a traditional stronghold for the pan-Blue camp, where the KMT possesses deep organizational and mobilization capabilities at the grassroots level. However, as the TPP has actively cultivated its presence across Taiwan in recent years—particularly in the Hsinchu City, Hsinchu County, and Miaoli region—it has absorbed some independent voters and younger demographics who have grown weary of the traditional pan-Blue and pan-Green parties, thereby altering the voter structure in Hsinchu County. As the KMT local chapter chairman, Yang Wen-ke bears the heavy responsibility of safeguarding the pan-Blue stronghold and maintaining intra-party unity. His warning to "reject those who wave the blue flag while attacking the blue camp" is primarily aimed at preventing the fragmentation of the pan-Blue vote during the election, with the intent of consolidating the legitimacy of orthodox KMT candidates and preventing pan-Blue ballots from being magnetically drawn away or split.

Faced with the call and the clear demarcation drawn by the KMT local chairman, TPP Chairman Ko Wen-je's attitude appeared relatively nonchalant and pragmatic. By dismissing the matter simply as "internal KMT affairs," Ko avoided getting drawn into a pointless war of words with local political heavyweights, thereby shifting the focus back to his own campaign pace. In Taiwan's political ecosystem, Ko and the TPP have always excelled at using agenda-setting and internet popularity to break through the blockades of traditional parties. As the election enters its final sprint, the TPP's strategy typically involves concentrating resources in constituencies with a winning chance, or leveraging high-profile figures to boost the momentum of local councilors and grassroots candidates. Therefore, regarding the internal calls from the Blue camp, Ko chose to handle the matter coldly, defining it with the notion of "each running their own earnest race," thus demonstrating the TPP's determination to make a breakthrough in local elections.

From a deeper political perspective, the electoral development in Hsinchu County is not merely a question of victory or defeat in a single county or city; it is a microcosm of the competition and cooperation between the KMT and the TPP in the 2024 presidential election and the subsequent local political landscape. Although discussions and attempts at cooperation have occurred between the Blue and White camps at the central level or on specific issues, political parties must still engage in close-quarters combat at the grassroots level during legislative and councilor elections in order to survive and develop, competing for the same political spectrum and voter base. The KMT must retain its local governance and council majority advantages, while the TPP must demonstrate party autonomy and substantial vote-getting capabilities to prove its strength in taking root at the grassroots level. This grassroots reality—where "competition outweighs cooperation"—is the background reason behind Yang Wen-ke's stern warning, as well as the political consideration that forced Ko Wen-je to respond with composure.

As the countdown to the election sounds, the campaign in Hsinchu County has entered a high-tension phase of close combat. The Blue camp is actively defending traditional organizational votes, utilizing party-state machinery and local factional networks to build cohesion; meanwhile, the TPP continues to advocate for changing political culture, striving to inspire air-war votes and the voting enthusiasm of younger demographics. Ko Wen-je's response to the election actually reflects the campaign philosophy of all camps in the final stretch: "man proposes, God disposes." Regardless of how the Blue and White camps clash or distance themselves on the surface, the ultimate power of judgment remains firmly in the hands of all Hsinchu County voters. The outcome of this election will not only determine the local political trajectory of Hsinchu County for the next few years, but will also serve as an important indicator for observing whether Taiwan's third force can firmly plant its feet amidst the grip of the traditional blue and green forces.