Ko Chih-en and Huang Kuo-chang spark cooperation buzz, drawing criticism from Lai Jui-lung

As the 2026 Kaohsiung mayoral election intensifies, the strategic deployments and political maneuvers of the Kuomintang (KMT), the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) are increasingly coming to the forefront. KMT legislator and mayoral candidate Ko Chih-en and TPP Chairman Huang Kuo-chang appeared together on stage in Kaohsiung on the fourth of the month to rally support for TPP-affiliated city council candidates. This public appearance is widely viewed by observers as a significant practical implementation and political signal of the “blue-white alliance” in the Kaohsiung region, symbolizing the opposition camp’s attempt to expand its oversight of the ruling party and consolidate opposition forces through substantive political alliances and resource complementarity in local elections.

However, this joint rally by the blue and white camps immediately drew intense attention and a strong response from the green camp. DPP legislator and mayoral candidate Lai Li-hung commented on the matter, stating that instead of frequently joining forces for rallies, Huang and Ko should seriously address the ongoing controversy over the Fiscal Revenue Allocation Act, which is critical to Kaohsiung’s development. Lai called on the two, as members of the legislature, to fulfill their duties as representatives of the people by reverting the provisions of the Fiscal Revenue Allocation Act that were previously amended and deemed highly detrimental to Kaohsiung. He urged them to demonstrate their concern and commitment to the city through concrete policy actions, rather than limiting their efforts to political rhetoric and superficial electoral alliances.

The controversy surrounding the amendment of the Fiscal Revenue Allocation Act has long been a core pain point in resource distribution between the central government and localities, as well as among different counties and cities. Over the past period, the Legislative Yuan has engaged in multiple rounds of debate over amendments to the Act. The version passed under the leadership of the opposition camp has frequently been criticized by the ruling party and some mayors and representatives from central and southern counties and cities as “favoring the north over the south.” Critics argue that the allocation formula fails to adequately consider objective conditions such as the actual population structure of each county or city, the costs of industrial transformation, the burden of environmental carbon emissions, and national security. As a city undergoing transformation from a heavy industrial and energy base, Kaohsiung has long borne significant environmental and air pollution costs. Its local finance relies relatively heavily on central government subsidies; therefore, any changes to the Fiscal Revenue Allocation Act directly impact the advancement of major construction projects and the sustainable development of Kaohsiung.

Against this backdrop, the joint appearance by Ko and Huang is viewed not merely as a routine campaign event for city council candidates, but as a test of strength by the opposition camp in a key southern voting stronghold. Ko, who has cultivated deep roots in Kaohsiung for years, is actively positioning himself for the next mayoral seat, while Huang is leading the TPP in aggressively expanding its political map at the local level. The scope of cooperation and tacit understanding between the two in Kaohsiung holds indicative significance for the future model of opposition consolidation. While voters watch these political dynamics unfold, they are also beginning to strictly scrutinize the actual performance of these politicians in the legislature, particularly whether they truly guard the interests of local development on major bills concerning the financial lifeline of localities.

Lai’s decision to shift the focus to the Fiscal Revenue Allocation Act at this juncture is clearly an attempt to redirect the main axis of the election from the political maneuvering and alliances of individual politicians back to policy battles that affect the substantive interests of citizens. For the DPP, emphasizing the perceived unfairness of the Fiscal Revenue Allocation Act toward Kaohsiung serves not only to build a sense of crisis among its supporters but also to test the local stance of the KMT and TPP candidates. In recent years, the voter structure and political ideology in Kaohsiung have shifted due to industrial transformation and population movement. Consequently, the upcoming mayoral election will be more than a party duel; it will be a comprehensive contest of policy substance and urban vision.

Overall, the political ripples triggered by the joint appearance of Ko and Huang reflect the complex and ever-changing competitive and cooperative relationships in Taiwan’s local elections. The blue and white camps are attempting to break through the DPP’s long-term ruling stronghold in southern Taiwan through joint rallies, while the green camp is defending and counterattacking through policy and livelihood issues. As the election schedule advances, debates over substantive policy issues such as the Fiscal Revenue Allocation Act are expected to become one of the key factors determining the outcome of the Kaohsiung mayoral race.

(Source: Central News Agency)