Cheng Li-wen refutes rumors of campaign ban and urges party unity in Hsinchu

Recently, rumors emerged within political circles regarding internal divisions within the Kuomintang (KMT) over campaign assistance for Chiu Chen-yuan, the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) candidate for the mayor of Zhubei City in Hsinchu County. Some media reports even claimed that KMT Chairperson Cheng Li-wen had issued an order banning KMT legislators from appearing at rallies to support the TPP candidate. In response, Cheng issued a stern clarification today, emphasizing that these rumors were taken completely out of context. She also directly addressed recent public remarks by KMT Legislator Hsu Chiao-xin, who stated that "Hsu Hsin-ying agreed, only Cheng Li-wen objected," calling the statement untrue. Cheng urged party comrades to avoid speaking on behalf of others as much as possible to prevent gaps between statements and reality, which could cause unnecessary internal misunderstandings and turmoil.

The background of this incident stems from the delicate dynamics of Taiwan's local politics regarding the integration of the pan-blue and non-green camps and local electoral competition. As the core commercial hub of Hsinchu County, Zhubei City features a rapidly growing population and strong economic power, making it a fiercely contested battleground. The TPP has deployed Chiu Chen-yuan as a candidate here, hoping to launch its electoral campaign based on local governance experience and party resources. However, under the overall framework of "Blue-White cooperation," how to strike a balance in campaign assistance boundaries between local legislators and the party center has always been a focus of external attention. The KMT possesses strong local organizational strength in Hsinchu County, and as a local legislator, Hsu Hsin-ying's stance often influences the grassroots sentiment of the blue camp. Meanwhile, the party center's decisions must take into account the overall considerations of national strategy and party discipline, creating room for differing interpretations between party elites and local politicians when facing cross-party endorsement issues.

Regarding media reports alleging that the party center had imposed a ban preventing KMT legislators from endorsing the TPP candidate, Cheng's personal appearance to refute the claims highlights the difficult position of the party center in balancing local practicalities and central authority when handling cross-party cooperation. In the current political ecosystem, the cooperative model between the KMT and the TPP in certain counties and cities has not yet been fully finalized. Opinions within the party remain divergent on whether to adopt comprehensive competition and cooperation, relax local constraints, or strictly adhere to party discipline. Some regional legislators, driven by local ties, voter demographics, or personal political calculations, may be inclined to maintain friendly interactions or even campaign alongside TPP candidates. However, the party center must safeguard the KMT's own political dignity, independence, and the sentiments of its supporters to avoid grassroots backlash caused by overly blurred party boundaries. This gap in strategic thinking between the central and local levels often serves as a breeding ground for various rumors and internal noise.

Furthermore, public statements by party legislators alleging that specific party and government leaders held opposing views brought implicit communication gaps into the open. Hsu Chiao-xin's previous remark that "Hsu Hsin-ying agreed, only Cheng Li-wen objected"—pointing directly at the party chairperson's personal stance—not only directly challenged the unity of party and government decision-making, but also provided fodder for outsiders to magnify internal decision-making conflicts within the KMT. Cheng's specific refutation of this claim, emphasizing that it was untrue and publicly urging individuals not to speak on behalf of candidates or other political figures, was aimed precisely at preventing external interference and consolidating the party center's dominance over public messaging and decision-making. If politicians fail to grasp the full picture when making statements, simple internal communications are easily turned into materials for outsiders to speculate about factional struggles, which is undoubtedly a major internal drain for a party preparing for elections and trying to build momentum and unity.

From a long-term and overall political perspective, this controversy highlights that under a system intertwined with multi-party competition and cooperation, the party still lacks a clear and institutionalized set of standards and boundaries regarding cross-party campaign assistance. When the party center and local legislators hold different perceptions of the definition and political effects of "endorsements," friction is inevitable. Cheng's prompt and definitive clarification was intended not only to put an end to external speculation about internal strife within the KMT, but also to send a clear signal to party legislators, demanding a high degree of discipline and consistency on sensitive electoral issues. How the electoral situation in Zhubei City will develop in the future, and whether the blue and white camps can find a mutually beneficial balance in local elections, will test not only Chiu Chen-yuan's personal political acumen, but also the wisdom and unity of the KMT center and local legislators in facing complex political games.

(Source: Central News Agency)