Lamenting Overkill in Hsinchu County Magistrate Primary, Cheng Li-ming Calls on Chen Chien-hsien: We Will Never Forget You, the KMT Needs You

The Kuomintang (KMT) held its mobile Central Standing Committee meeting on the 5th in Hsinchu County, a region the party central views as a challenging electoral battleground. The KMT-nominated Hsinchu County magistrate candidate Hsu Hsin-ying and Hsinchu County Deputy Magistrate Chen Chien-hsien engaged in a fiercely contested and emotionally damaging primary, leaving deep rifts within the party. As a result, grassroots support in the blue camp remains fragmented, and Chen did not attend the KMT's mobile Central Standing Committee meeting on the 5th.

KMT Chairperson Cheng Li-ming delivered a heartfelt appeal to Chen, calling him a close friend and long-time comrade. She said many people across Taiwan are comforting, encouraging, and supporting Chen, urging him not to feel isolated or forgotten. "The KMT will absolutely not forget you. In many battlefront positions, the KMT will certainly need you," she emphasized.

Cheng acknowledged that during the recent Hsinchu County magistrate primary, party members exerted excessive effort, resulting in deeply personal and painful confrontations. "Everyone was hurt and felt wronged," she admitted. Yet, she reminded the party that Hsinchu County has weathered decades of turbulence and faced countless challenges. "The KMT has never won elections by coasting—we've always advanced against the wind."

She stressed that integration is the top concern. "In Hsinchu County, the KMT is one big family. No matter how much we argue or fight behind closed doors, when it truly matters, we are bound by blood—we are the real insiders." While internal disagreements are acceptable in private, she insisted, "once the door opens, we must present a united front to the outside."

Cheng reiterated that Chen is a trusted comrade who has served the KMT loyally and diligently throughout his career. Even though Chen did not attend the Central Standing Committee meeting, she assured that party leaders remain in constant contact, offering encouragement. "You are always part of the KMT, and we will absolutely need you on the front lines," she said, urging unity and full mobilization to defend Hsinchu County.

Cheng also questioned why Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-nominated Zhubei Mayor Cheng Chao-fang would abandon his re-election bid. With presidential backing from Lai Qing-te, Cheng Chao-fang should not have stepped down after just one term, she argued. Instead, she claimed Lai has long coveted Hsinchu County but could not find a suitable candidate, forcing Cheng Chao-fang to run. As for why Cheng agreed, Cheng Li-ming sarcastically noted that in the DPP, the more elections you lose, the higher you rise—citing Su Tseng-chang becoming Premier after losing, Lin Chia-lung becoming Foreign Minister after defeat, and Liang Wen-chieh becoming Mainland Affairs Council Chair despite losing his council seat. "Cheng Chao-fang has the current leader's protection—no worries. But KMT candidates aren't so lucky. The people of Hsinchu County will surely see the difference," she concluded.