Zhubei mayoral race: blue‑white pact collapses as candidates clash over integrity

The mayoral race in Zhubei City, Hsinchu County, has recently become a focal point of political attention, as the anticipated cooperation between the blue and white camps has officially collapsed, leading to a public exchange of accusations that has drawn widespread scrutiny. KMT legislator and prominent local figure Xu Xin‑ying declared that the Kuomintang and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) have never reached any agreement to cede the Zhubei mayoralty, and she personally has made no commitments to the TPP. Her remarks immediately provoked strong displeasure and a forceful rebuttal from the TPP.

In response, TPP chairman Huang Kuo‑chang issued a stern statement in Taipei, describing the practice of politicians making promises they do not keep and then persisting in open falsehoods as “utterly unacceptable.” He warned that such behavior not only fails to clarify the truth but also increasingly tarnishes the offender’s public image. Huang’s remarks escalated the tension surrounding the Zhubei mayoral contest to a peak, cooling the interaction between the blue and white parties in local elections to a near‑standstill, with each side maintaining its own narrative and further clouding the race’s dynamics.

In recent years, Zhubei City has emerged as a “super battleground” due to the spill‑over effect of the Hsinchu Science Park and rapid population growth, making it one of the best‑fiscal‑status municipalities in Taiwan, with the youngest demographic profile and a distinctive voter composition. In such a contest, any coalition or realignment among parties influences local factions and vote blocs. For some time, speculation circulated that the blue and white camps might unite in Zhubei to avoid a fragmented opposition that could benefit the Democratic Progressive Party. However, as the election timetable advanced, coordination efforts failed to produce consensus; instead, divergent perceptions caused the talks to collapse, giving rise to the present verbal clash and credibility dispute.

From a strategic perspective, cooperation between the KMT and TPP in local elections remains highly uncertain. On one hand, the TPP is actively seeking footholds across the island and hopes to demonstrate political strength in the symbolically important Zhubei contest. On the other hand, the KMT, as the traditional dominant party in Hsinchu County, feels pressure to protect its territorial base and uphold its nomination rights. Without a foundation of mutual trust, each side interprets notions of “yielding” or “cooperation” in starkly different ways. Xu’s insistence that no promise was made reflects the KMT’s stance on safeguarding its candidate selection and local interests, while Huang’s accusation of lying positions the TPP as the aggrieved party whose negotiations were betrayed.

The confrontation that has spilled over from the Zhubei mayoral race is more than a regional anecdote; it may serve as a precedent for party interactions in other counties and cities. When negotiations over grassroots electoral interests break down, senior party figures are stepping onto the front lines of public debate, highlighting the paradoxical blend of collaboration and competition that characterises the blue‑white relationship. For voters, the transparency of politicians’ integrity and the openness of their negotiation processes are often decisive factors in voting decisions. As the campaign intensifies, whether the blue and white parties can each carve out viable paths forward or continue to expend political capital in a war of words will be a key indicator of Taiwan’s evolving political landscape.

(Source: Central News Agency)