Behind the Scenes: Unlike Huang Kuo-chang, Running Against Fu Kun-chi in Hualien, Ko Wen-je Prepared to Be 'Betrayed'

Ahead of the 2026 local elections, the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) announced on July 15 the nomination of Dai Yu-wen, a former spokesperson who served founding chairman Ko Wen-je for 10 years, as its mayoral candidate for Hualien City. Dai's main opponent is Wei Jia-yan, the incumbent Hualien City mayor from the Kuomintang (KMT). Wei's brother, Wei Jia-xian, is an independent candidate for Hualien County magistrate and a former Hualien City mayor. In this county election, Wei Jia-xian is competing against You Shu-zhen, the Jiji Township mayor widely seen as backed by KMT legislator Fu Kun-chi, and Hualien County Council Speaker Zhang Jun, creating a three-way race. As a result, the Fu and Wei families are now viewed as political rivals. The KMT Hualien County chapter decided not to officially nominate Wei Jia-yan for mayor, allowing only 'filing for candidacy' status. Wei's father, Wei Dong-he, reportedly became so enraged by this decision that he was hospitalized in intensive care. With the Fu and Wei families clashing over the county leadership, Dai Yu-wen's nomination initially led to speculation that the TPP, which cooperates with Fu Kun-chi in the legislature, might now ally with him locally to counter the Wei family. However, during the July 15 press conference, Zhang Tian-min, chairman of the TPP Hualien County chapter, when asked about potential cooperation with Fu Kun-chi, responded emotionally, stating he would never compromise and would resign immediately if forced into an alliance. This outburst revealed internal strategic tensions within the TPP and cast uncertainty over the party's actual game plan in Hualien. What is Ko Wen-je truly aiming for in this election?