Su, Lee Clash Over Industrial Land Plans in New Taipei Mayoral Race

The upcoming mayoral election in New Taipei City has become the focus of nationwide attention. As Taiwan's most populous city with the most active industrial development, New Taipei City's industrial policies not only concern the local economy, but also impact industrial chains and the labor market across Taiwan. Recently, mayoral candidates from the two major parties, Li Si-chuan of the Kuomintang (KMT) and Su Chiao-hui of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), successively attended the New Taipei City Industrial Association membership meeting, where the pan-Blue and pan-Green camps once again engaged in a fierce debate over industrial issues. The meeting served not only as a platform for the candidates to promote their industrial policy platforms, but also as an important occasion for enterprises and industrial groups from all sectors to seek policy support.

The Industrial Association membership meeting was held in New Taipei City, gathering corporate representatives from various fields including manufacturing, technology, and logistics. During the meeting, the two candidates respectively presented their policy platforms regarding the supply and planning of "industrial land." In her speech, Su Chiao-hui emphasized that the city government would proactively identify and plan suitable industrial land to attract domestic and foreign investors, thereby further enhancing New Taipei City's industrial competitiveness. She pointed out that the city government has previously completed land consolidation and infrastructure construction in certain areas, and in the future, it will continue to optimize land-use efficiency while aligning with the development directions of green energy and smart manufacturing to build a "new green industry city."

In contrast, Li Si-chuan advocated for "expanding industrial land," calling on the government to moderately increase industrial zones while preserving agricultural and residential land to meet the growing demand for industries. He mentioned that expanding industrial land can not only create more job opportunities, but also boost local tax revenues and infrastructure investment. Li emphasized that the expansion plan would focus on "industrial land optimization," balancing environmental protection and community integration while consulting with local councilors and civic groups to ensure that land acquisition and compensation procedures are fair and transparent.

Although the two candidates' industrial land policies appear similar on paper, significant differences exist in their practical implementation. Su Chiao-hui advocates a strategy centered on "identifying" land, emphasizing the reuse and efficiency enhancement of existing land to avoid large-scale land expropriation. Meanwhile, Li Si-chuan leans more toward an "expansion" strategy, advocating for the creation of new industrial zones in appropriate areas and the acceleration of land acquisition procedures. This difference is not only reflected in the orientation of their land policies, but also mirrors the ideological divergence between the two parties regarding industrial development and land use. Su's proposal aligns more closely with the DPP's policy orientation centered on environmental protection and community integration, whereas Li's proposal conforms more to the KMT's traditional viewpoint prioritizing industry and economic growth.

Regarding the issue of land supply in New Taipei City, both candidates face challenges. The region is predominantly composed of residential and agricultural land, making industrial land relatively scarce. If industrial land is expanded, suitable land sources must be found without compromising the environment and community interests; if the focus remains on identifying existing land, issues such as low land-use efficiency and insufficient infrastructure must be resolved. Both approaches require building a consensus among the government, enterprises, and communities to ensure a balance between industrial development and public welfare. Achieving policy-level consensus in the future will help enhance New Taipei City's competitiveness in the global supply chain.

Looking at the Industrial Association membership meeting as a whole, the pan-Blue and pan-Green camps have clearly stated their positions on the issue of industrial land, showcasing their respective platforms and policy priorities. For voters, the supply and planning of industrial land are directly related to local economic development, job opportunities, and quality of life. Whether it is Su Chiao-hui's "identification" strategy or Li Si-chuan's "expansion" plan, practical implementation must balance environmental, community, and industrial needs. The outcome of the upcoming election will determine the direction of New Taipei City's industrial development and influence the adjustment and upgrading of Taiwan's entire industrial chain.