TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Kuomintang Chair Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) and Taiwan People’s Party Chair Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) met in New Taipei on Wednesday to discuss cooperation ahead of the 2026 local elections.
Cheng said public opinion surveys will be an essential tool for selecting joint candidates, though details will be finalized in later discussions, per UDN. She emphasized that any KMT member who undermines cooperation with the TPP or insists on running as an independent will face disciplinary action under party rules.
Huang proposed strengthening collaboration between the parties’ think tanks. Cheng responded that she has already recruited former interior minister Lee Hong-yuan (李鴻源) to form a team dedicated to the effort.
A TPP insider said the meeting represents the first step toward building an opposition coalition for the 2026 elections, per Knews. The insider said discussions were preliminary but that talks on mechanisms for joint nominations will follow.
The insider added that cooperation conditions differ from those in 2024, saying experiences during failed recall attempts targeting KMT legislators helped build mutual trust. Joint nominations in Yilan County, Chiayi County, and New Taipei are expected to be initial areas of cooperation, with the possibility of expanding to additional municipalities.
Democratic Progressive Party Secretary-General Hsu Kuo-yong (徐國勇) criticized the KMT–TPP meeting as “a failed gathering,” per ETtoday. He said the parties did not meaningfully discuss cooperation for the 2026 elections or address national security issues.
TPP Secretary-General Chou Yu-hsiu (周榆修) responded that while the TPP supports national defense, it should not be used as cover for what he described as ineffective DPP governance, per Tai Sounds. He urged the DPP to stop blocking opposition proposals to raise military pay and to accelerate delivery of purchased defense equipment.
During the press briefing, Huang was asked whether former TPP Chair Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) would be invited to future KMT–TPP meetings, per NOWNews. He said Ko would return to the political spotlight after resolving his legal issues.
