TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Former President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Tuesday accepted DPP Taitung County magistrate candidate Chen Ying's (陳瑩) invitation to chair her election campaign, emphasizing the importance of party unity.
Former DPP lawmaker Liu Chao-hao (劉櫂豪) announced Friday that he was withdrawing from the county magistrate race and would instead support candidates who share his political values, per UDN. Chen responded by saying she was willing to work with anyone committed to contributing to Taitung's development, per CNA.
Tsai, whose political faction includes Liu, reportedly persuaded him to withdraw from the race, per TVBS.
During a meeting Tuesday between Tsai, Chen, Liu, and others, Chen invited Tsai to chair her campaign and asked Liu to serve as campaign manager, per UP Media. Tsai accepted and praised Liu for helping facilitate cooperation between the two camps.
Liu said he hopes Chen will become Taitung's next county magistrate and thanked his supporters for encouraging him after he withdrew from the race, per NOWNews. Chen praised Liu's work on transportation policy during his time as a lawmaker, saying his experience would complement her background in public health.
Chen also said Tsai's decision to chair her campaign reflected the former president's commitment to Taitung.
With Liu out of the race, the election is expected to become a contest between Chen and KMT candidate and Taitung County Council Speaker Wu Hsiu-hua (吳秀華), per CNA. Although the KMT is generally favored in Taitung, both Wu and her brother and campaign manager, Wu Chun-li (吳俊立), are facing legal scrutiny.
It remains to be seen whether Chen can consolidate Liu's supporters and mount a serious challenge in the traditionally KMT-leaning county.
Separately, the Taitung County Government widened an agricultural access road from three meters to 15 meters, despite the road reportedly serving only one family, per UP Media. Taitung County Councilor Lin Tsan-tien (林參天) alleged the project was intended to improve access to a future resort planned on land owned by Wu's family.
The Taitung District Prosecutors Office has searched Taitung City Government offices and detained two officials on suspicion of using their official positions to obtain improper benefits, per Liberty Times.
