Lai Ching-te backs Miaoli county chief, challenging Blue camp's stronghold

President Lai Ching-te publicly endorsed Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) miaoli County commissioner candidate Chen Pin-an during a campaign rally held in Miaoli County on the 12th of this month. In his speech, President Lai noted that Chen has long cultivated local affairs in Miaoli and is deeply familiar with local industries and people's livelihood needs. He expressed hope that through close cooperation between the central and local governments, multiple policies including industrial upgrading, transportation infrastructure, medical resources, and basic infrastructure can be promoted in the future. This statement is not only an affirmation of Chen Pin-an personally, but also symbolizes the ruling party's strategic layout in the local elections.

Chen Pin-an has many years of experience on the local political stage, having previously served as a legislator and county councilor, and possesses a practical background in the development of agriculture, tourism, and small and medium-sized enterprises in Miaoli. Over the years, he has repeatedly helped secure central government budgets to promote local construction projects such as the Miaoli Green Energy Industrial Park and the Nanzhuang Bicycle Path, thereby building a certain reputation within the local community. President Lai's specific mention of his "long-term dedication" serves as an endorsement of his past performance and aims to convey the central government's emphasis on local leaders with practical experience.

Miaoli County has long been a stronghold of the Kuomintang (KMT) in past elections. Although the DPP has shown signs of gradual breakthroughs in recent years, it still faces challenges from the voter structure and local factions. President Lai's personal appearance at the rally indicates that ahead of the 2026 local elections, the DPP intends to boost Chen Pin-an's campaign momentum with the image of "central government backing" to strive for a breakthrough in a traditional blue camp base. This move may also exert pressure on the KMT's local deployment, prompting it to accelerate adjustments in candidate selection and policy proposals.

Since taking office, the Lai Ching-te administration has continued to promote the policy framework of "local revitalization" and "central-local cooperation," emphasizing the promotion of local development through the decentralization of resources and cross-ministerial coordination. Regarding Miaoli, the government has planned to increase the frequency and speed of Taiwan Railways' Western Trunk Line, expand emergency and specialist services at Miaoli Hospital in terms of medical care, and accelerate the promotion of the "Miaoli Smart Manufacturing" demonstration project to assist local small and medium-sized enterprises in introducing automation and digitization. The "industry, transportation, medical care, and local construction" mentioned by President Lai on stage are the specific implementation points of these policies. If they can work in synergy with local leaders, it is expected to enhance Miaoli's overall competitiveness.

The president's personal endorsement is a double-edged sword for the DPP: on the one hand, it can raise Chen Pin-an's visibility and voter trust while reinforcing the positive image of "central government support"; on the other hand, if the effectiveness of cooperation cannot be proven in the election results, it could also be exploited by opponents to criticize the central government for over-interfering in local affairs. For Miaoli residents, if the cooperation between the central and local governments can truly be translated into concrete construction, it will directly improve their quality of life and employment opportunities. The coming months of the election campaign and policy execution will become an important indicator for testing the effectiveness of this cooperation model.