Li Sichuan holds grand Banqiao rally, pledging to succeed Hou You-yi with Chiang Wan-an

The scent of gunpowder in the New Taipei City mayoral race has grown increasingly thick as the campaign heats up. On the fourth of the month, Kuomintang (KMT) mayoral candidate Li Sichuan held a grand rally in Banqiao, demonstrating strong ambition and local cohesion. The event drew a massive crowd of supporters, with a sea of flags waving and cheers echoing from all sides, symbolizing a key step in the KMT’s strategic layout for New Taipei City. During the rally, Li delivered a passionate speech, publicly expressing his hope to seamlessly take over the administrative foundation laid by incumbent Mayor Hou You-yi over the past eight years. He further proposed a vision of close cooperation with Taipei City Mayor Chiang Wan-an, chanting the slogan “Shared Prosperity for Double Taipei” to showcase a macro-level perspective that transcends administrative boundaries.

In his speech, Li emphasized his deep emotional connection to the region, stating, “My home is in New Taipei. I will shoulder the future of New Taipei.” This sentiment deeply resonated with many grassroots voters in the audience. Li has long enjoyed a high reputation in both Taiwan’s political arena and the engineering sector. Having previously served as Vice Mayor of Taipei City, he also left a significant mark on infrastructure development in other special municipalities, including New Taipei and Kaohsiung. He is widely regarded as a pragmatic technocrat and political figure. By choosing Banqiao, the political and economic core of New Taipei City, as the main stage for this rally, Li aimed to leverage its symbolic significance in the overall election. He sought to consolidate the KMT’s core voter base and demonstrate to the public that he possesses the capability to steer the future development of New Taipei City, the most populous city in Taiwan.

Looking back at New Taipei City’s political landscape and development trajectory in recent years, incumbent Mayor Hou You-yi has driven major projects such as the “Three Rings and Six Lines” transportation plan, the “Banqiao-Fuzhong Twin Cities” initiative, and various land readjustment and aesthetic corridor projects. These efforts have helped New Taipei City shed its stereotype as a “satellite city” of Taipei, transforming it into a modern metropolis with an independent and autonomous economic and living sphere. However, as Hou’s term approaches its conclusion, how to sustain these critical infrastructure projects that affect citizens’ daily lives, while innovating upon the existing foundation, has become a serious challenge for the next mayor. By raising the banner of “taking over from Hou You-yi,” Li aims to inherit the incumbent administration’s high approval ratings and voter loyalty. He also assures voters that his professional engineering background will ensure a seamless transition, guaranteeing that New Taipei City’s hardware construction and urban planning will not be interrupted by changes in party control or leadership.

Beyond municipal continuity, Li’s specific mention of “Shared Prosperity for Double Taipei” during the rally represents a strategically astute appeal in this election. Although Taipei City and New Taipei City are administratively independent, they have long formed an inseparable community in terms of living spheres, transportation networks, industrial economics, environmental protection, and social welfare. From the massive population commuting across city lines daily to the extension and integration of the rapid transit network, coordination and cooperation between the two cities have never ceased. Li has previously participated in the planning and execution of many major projects in the Double Taipei region and is well-versed in the communication channels between the two cities. Moreover, Li and incumbent Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an developed a deep cooperative rapport during their time in the Taipei City government. If they were to lead their respective cities in the future, they could effectively break down past administrative barriers and achieve synergistic effects in cross-domain governance issues such as transportation, investment attraction, tourism, and disaster prevention, thereby realizing true regional prosperity.

From a broader political and social perspective, this large-scale rally in Banqiao is not only a highlight of Li’s personal campaign itinerary but also reflects the KMT’s overall strategic thinking regarding the capital metropolitan area. As the most populous special municipality in Taiwan, the outcome of the New Taipei City election often carries national demonstration effects and serves as a barometer for political trends. Li is entering the race with a pragmatic, low-key, yet efficient working style, aiming to shift the traditional perception of political figures as show-offs who make empty promises. Instead, he seeks voter endorsement through the professional rationality of an engineer and the warm appeal of deep local roots. As the campaign progresses, competition among the various camps is bound to intensify. Whether Li can translate the momentum displayed at this rally into actual votes and grassroots support, thereby fulfilling his promise to shoulder the future of New Taipei City, will be the most important indicator for observing the development of the New Taipei City election. (Source: Central News Agency)