Is Taichung Testing Lu Shiow-yen’s 2028 Cross-Strait Strategy? Deputy Mayor’s China Trip Draws Attention

A planned Taichung delegation to Dongguan has become a political issue after city councilors linked the trip to Mayor Lu Shiow-yen’s possible ambitions for Taiwan’s 2028 presidential election.

Deputy Mayor Cheng Chao-hsin, Investment Promotion Committee representative Chen Hsueh-sheng and Economic Development Bureau Director Chang Feng-yuan are due to attend the Taiwan products expo on Sept. 2. Cheng described it as a Taiwanese business event, noting that other Taiwanese cities have also sent representatives.

But Democratic Progressive Party councilors argued that the delegation’s composition invited a broader interpretation. Council caucus leader Chou Yung-hung said the expo organizers include Chinese local government agencies handling Taiwan affairs. Since Lu is not attending personally, he questioned why the city had chosen senior figures with political communication experience.

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Is this the deputy mayor’s personal capacity, or are you going with Taiwanese businesses? Is this a Taichung City Government itinerary?

Councilor Lin Te-yu asked whether Cheng would travel in his personal capacity, with Taiwanese businesses, or as part of an official Taichung government program. He said the timing was sensitive because Lu could become a potential 2028 presidential candidate. Lin gave Cheng a Republic of China flag cap and urged him to wear it in China, warning against using investment promotion as a cover for political engagement.

Cheng replied that businesses were the main participants and that he would attend in his official capacity. He said the delegation’s first priority was to market Taichung’s economic benefits.

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The businesses are indeed the main participants, and I am attending in my capacity as a civil servant, with promoting Taichung’s economic benefits as the top priority.