Cheng Li-chun Says Hsinchu County 'Cannot Afford to Lose,' Chen Chien-hsien Unlikely to Cause 'Pain to Allies, Joy to Enemies'

The 2026 Hsinchu County magistrate election has entered a critical phase of party integration. KMT Chairperson Cheng Li-chun stated in a recent interview with media personality Huang Kuang-chin that the Hsinchu County election 'cannot afford to lose,' stressing that all coordination should follow the 'principle of victory as the highest priority.' With key local KMT figures—including County Magistrate Yang Wen-ke, Council Speaker Chang Chen-jung, and former Magistrate Chiu Chin-hsun—returning to the fold, Deputy Magistrate Chen Chien-hsien, who lost the primary, is seen as pivotal to unifying the party. Cheng said the big picture matters and expressed confidence that the party will ultimately avoid a 'pain to allies, joy to enemies' outcome.

Cheng acknowledged that the KMT's primary for Hsinchu County magistrate was 'fought tooth and nail,' leaving deep wounds after the election. As a direct participant, Chen Chien-hsien needs time to reflect, she noted. However, she emphasized that from Magistrate Yang, Speaker Chang, and former Magistrate Chiu, to central party officials and local members, all have been in continuous communication with Chen to regroup for the general election. At the end of April, the KMT appointed Yang Wen-ke as the new head of the Hsinchu County Party branch. At that time, Cheng publicly stated the goal was to help Hsu Hsin-ying win and continue KMT governance in Hsinchu County.

However, Chen Chien-hsien recently did not attend the KMT's Hsinchu Action Standing Committee meeting. Reports also suggest he met with Chu Chen-yuan, the Taiwan People's Party's candidate for Zhubei mayor, and might even campaign for the white camp, leading to ongoing speculation that KMT divisions have not fully healed. Cheng reiterated that Hsinchu County and Zhubei City are highly interconnected, especially as Zhubei's population grows rapidly, directly influencing the county magistrate race. Therefore, Blue-White cooperation cannot focus only on individual seats but must be considered from the broader perspective of overall electoral success.

Political analysts note that Chen Chien-hsien's current position is particularly sensitive. Whether he supports Hsu Hsin-ying is no longer just a personal matter between the two—it could affect the voting behavior of local party organizations, members, and supporters. If Chen continues distancing himself from the KMT candidate or publicly backs another camp, even without the subjective intent to support Cheng Chao-fang, the objective political effect could loosen KMT votes and ultimately benefit Cheng.

Cheng Li-chun stated that Hsu Hsin-ying has shown considerable goodwill. According to sources, Hsu has repeatedly invited Chen to meet to resolve misunderstandings, and the two have met several times. All parties agree that the big picture is paramount. In the KMT's March 2024 primary for Hsinchu County magistrate, Hsu won with 50.634% against Chen's 49.366%, a mere 1.27 percentage point difference, making post-primary integration especially difficult. Cheng emphasized that the KMT must not remain trapped in primary wounds: 'No matter what, this county magistrate election cannot be lost,' she said, urging everyone to prioritize unity and victory.

Local KMT figures point out that Chen Chien-hsien has long been deeply rooted in the party and holds significant local influence. The real issue now is no longer who was more hurt in the March primary—especially since the conflict originated from Chen's insistence on a 70-30 primary rule. Under such a difficult system, Hsu narrowly won, and Chen must accept the result with grace and a sense of the bigger picture. With only months left until voting day, the KMT must consolidate all its forces onto one front. If internal divisions allow Cheng Chao-fang to benefit as a spoiler, it would be the worst possible outcome for the KMT.