Lee Chuan-chiao joins Chiang Wan-an on campaign trail to take on Su Chiao-hui

The New Taipei mayoral race sharpened on Sept. 5 as Kuomintang candidate Lee Chuan-chiao joined Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an for temple visits and street campaigning in Banqiao. The pair visited Jieyun Temple, Ci Hui Temple and a local market, turning the morning into a direct show of political strength.

Lee faces Democratic Progressive Party candidate Su Chiao-hui, who was due to establish her campaign headquarters that afternoon with President Lai Ching-te and former President Tsai Ing-wen expected to attend. Lee said he would follow the path set by incumbent New Taipei Mayor Hou You-yi and win the election.

Asked whether the Banqiao campaign reflected the idea that winning the district meant winning New Taipei, or highlighted joint governance between the two cities, Lee thanked Hou for accompanying him during registration the previous day and Chiang for joining him on the streets. He said Taipei and New Taipei would work together for shared prosperity if he became mayor.

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Wherever Chuan-bo goes, I will fully support him.

Chiang said he and Lee had worked closely on projects including the completion and opening of Taipei Dome, the launch of six Metro lines and efforts to bring Nvidia to Beitou Shilin Technology Park. “Wherever Chuan-bo goes, I will fully support him,” Chiang said. He added that voters in the market had shown strong enthusiasm for Lee, despite polling that suggested a declining spillover effect from Taipei.

Lee contrasted his campaign with Su’s political inheritance, saying, “Su Chiao-hui is taking over her father’s baton, while I am taking over Hou You-yi’s.” He said good construction and the current direction in New Taipei should continue. Lee also said Hou had immediately agreed to join a major rally on Sept. 12. Addressing concerns about a split between the Kuomintang and the Taiwan People’s Party in Zhubei, Lee said communication with party chairman Huang Kuo-chang remained open and that the alliance in New Taipei faced no such problem.

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Su Chiao-hui is taking over her father’s baton, while I am taking over Hou You-yi’s.