Lai Ching-te backs Liu Jian-guo, urging Yunlin victory to reshape Taiwan politics

Yunlin County's political landscape once again became the focus of nationwide attention as the election race entered a heated stage. The campaign headquarters for Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Yunlin County magistrate candidate Liu Chien-kuo was grandly established on the 20th, drawing over ten thousand enthusiastic supporters to the venue. The crowds packed the site to capacity, demonstrating strong grassroots cohesion and determination to win. President Lai Ching-te, who also serves as DPP Chairman, traveled south to Yunlin in person to serve as the chairperson of Liu Chien-kuo's campaign headquarters. This visit was not only intended to boost the campaign's momentum, but also provided an opportunity to address Yunlin residents, emphasizing the importance of this election to Taiwan's overall development and the continuation of local democracy. During the rally, Lai recounted Liu's years of political achievements and local cultivation, putting forward three core reasons for support while calling on voters to concentrate their ballots and strive to flip Yunlin.

In his speech, Lai first elaborated on his initial reason, which is based on macro-level national security and regional strategic considerations. He emphasized the political logic to the assembled crowd that "if Taiwan is to win, Yunlin must win first." In the current complex and shifting international geopolitical environment, Taiwan faces verbal intimidation, military threats, and various cognitive warfare tactics from across the strait. The frontline of democratic defense actually lies within every local election across the country. As a crucial hub for Taiwan's agriculture and the development of central and southern Taiwan, Yunlin County's political momentum and public sentiment hold indicative significance. Lai pointed out that only by electing Liu Chien-kuo, who possesses a firm Taiwanese identity and rich administrative experience, can Yunlin County's governance direction be closely coordinated with the central government to jointly resist external threats, further consolidate Taiwan's overall democratic defense, and demonstrate to the international community the grassroots determination in Taiwan to steadfastly safeguard democracy and freedom.

The second recommended reason focused on safeguarding Yunlin's democratic values and historical heritage. Yunlin County has long played a pivotal role in the historical corridor of Taiwan's democratization movement, earning praise from many political observers as a "sacred land of democracy." However, in recent years, the local political ecology and factional structure have undergone multiple twists and challenges. How to continue and polish this democratic brand has become a shared task for local residents and the DPP. Lai specifically mentioned that Liu Chien-kuo has deeply cultivated the Yunlin grassroots for a long time. Whether it was fighting for the rights of vulnerable groups during his past tenure as an elected representative or bravely speaking out against local injustices, his political path has always been closely linked to Yunlin's democratic pulse. Choosing Liu Chien-kuo is not merely selecting a local administrative head; it is also meant to safeguard Yunlin's hard-won democratic legacy and prevent local politics from regressing to the old paths of factional monopolization and profit distribution.

The third reason proposed by Lai is founded upon Liu Chien-kuo's solid legislative performance, vision for local construction, and concrete planning for Yunlin's future development. A politician's promises require execution as backing. Lai detailed Liu's past experience in the Legislative Yuan, noting that whether through his professional performance on the Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee or through substantive policies securing Yunlin's medical resources, agricultural modernization, and the deployment of long-term care facilities, Liu has always been personally involved, demonstrating a high degree of policy acumen and problem-solving ability. Addressing structural challenges such as population outflow, industrial transformation, and aging in Yunlin, Lai endorsed Liu by stating that he has prepared a comprehensive and forward-looking blueprint for county governance. This plan can accurately channel central government resources into Yunlin, create more employment opportunities locally, and properly care for elderly and young residents, transforming Yunlin from a major agricultural county into a hopeful, smart new township.

The scale of this campaign headquarters establishment rally was massive, and the unprecedented crowds not only injected a shot in the arm into Liu Chien-kuo's campaign, but also highlighted the DPP's resolute determination to secure the Yunlin County magistrate seat. As the election enters its final sprint, the competition between the blue and green camps in Yunlin is bound to intensify further. President Lai's personal presence and articulation of the three major reasons for support are undoubtedly intended to consolidate the pan-green base while winning the recognition of independent voters and the younger generation through the high standing of the party chairman and the president's endorsement. The outcome of this election will not only determine Yunlin's developmental trajectory for the next four years, but will also serve as an important weather vane for examining the DPP's local governance effectiveness and grassroots public sentiment, drawing close attention from all sectors.

(Source: Central News Agency)