Lai Ching‑te lauds Chen Chi‑mai’s governance, gives seven‑star rating at Kaohsiung book launch

President Lai Ching‑te traveled south today to attend Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi‑mai’s book‑launch event, drawing intense attention in political circles and local governance. In his speech, Lai said he is not one to hand out praise lightly, especially since he himself served as Tainan mayor and also received the “five‑star mayor” rating indicating extremely high satisfaction. Therefore it is not easy for him to sincerely commend a local chief. However, he turned the discussion and emphasized that if he were to grade Chen’s performance, “I might give seven stars,” expressing strong approval of Chen’s governance of Kaohsiung. The comment highlighted their political rapport and again put Kaohsiung’s recent urban transformation in the national spotlight.

Reviewing Lai’s political career, he served as Tainan mayor from 2010 to 2017, during which his administration’s satisfaction ratings frequently topped media and poll rankings, earning him multiple “five‑star mayor” honors. Because of his extensive experience as a chief executive of a special municipality, he is well aware of the challenges of revitalizing localities, budget allocation, legislative questioning and major project implementation, which makes his standards for evaluating other city and county leaders especially stringent. Lai pointed to this background in his remarks to underscore the weight of his appraisal of Chen. He argued that Chen’s administrative efficiency and crisis‑management during his tenure in Kaohsiung have surpassed the performance of a typical local chief, which is why Lai is willing to break convention and award a “seven‑star” rating that exceeds the usual five‑star maximum.

Chen’s book‑launch event is not only a personal political and literary showcase but also a comprehensive review and interim report of his achievements as Kaohsiung mayor. Since taking office, Kaohsiung has faced the global restructuring of industrial supply chains and the pivotal transformation of Taiwan’s traditional manufacturing cities. The administration has actively promoted the “Tech Kaohsiung” and “Livable, Prosperous City” agendas. With strong central‑government support and efficient local execution, Kaohsiung successfully attracted international semiconductor giants such as TSMC to the Nanzih Industrial Park, accelerating the formation of a southern semiconductor corridor and shifting Kaohsiung’s image from heavy industry and high carbon emissions toward a high‑tech research and manufacturing hub. In addition, the city’s efforts in urban beautification, public housing construction, mass‑transit network expansion, and flood‑ and disaster‑prevention preparedness in the face of extreme weather have demonstrated practical and swift action by Chen’s team.

Lai’s “seven‑star” endorsement carries deep political significance and intra‑party implications. Within the Democratic Progressive Party, Kaohsiung has long been the party’s strongest stronghold and vote bank in the south; its governance performance directly influences the DPP’s overall support and image in southern Taiwan. Since assuming the presidency, Lai has been shaping a national development blueprint that emphasizes balanced national‑local growth, and the industrial transformation achieved under Chen aligns closely with the central government’s “Greater South, New Hometown” development strategy. Lai’s public backing and praise therefore not only endorse Chen’s individual record but also signal a united front between the central and local governments, reinforcing the commitment to deepen major projects in Kaohsiung.

From a local‑government perspective, a president’s extraordinary commendation of a specific special‑municipality mayor is likely to spark nationwide discussion about benchmarks for local governance. The performance of Taiwan’s special‑municipality leaders has long been watched, as they often serve as a talent pool for future national leadership. Chen, who has held various central and local posts—including Vice Premier, acting mayor of Kaohsiung, and elected mayor—has a political style noted for pragmatism and decisive decision‑making. Lai’s “seven‑star” remark at the book launch not only adds a striking footnote to Chen’s political career but also refocuses attention on Kaohsiung’s role as a locomotive within Taiwan’s local‑government system and its indispensable strategic position in the island’s overall economic and industrial transformation.

(Source: Central News Agency)