The 2026 Kaohsiung mayoral race heated up on Feb. 3 as DPP candidate Lai Jui-lung and KMT candidate Ko Chih-en traded sharp criticism over stalled budget negotiations, policy substance, and Kaohsiung’s relationship with the central government, with Ko dismissing what she called “inviting Taylor Swift” spectacles in favor of what she described as serious governance.
Business & Economy
Under this scenario, Taoyuan would function as a northern spillover hub absorbing industry and population growth, Taichung would consolidate its role as a central Taiwan manufacturing and livability center, and Kaohsiung would emerge as a southern gateway tied to industrial upgrading and international connectivity.
Ko Wen-je said the incident underscored a longstanding structural issue: serious neurosurgical cases in Penghu often require transfer to Kaohsiung for treatment, highlighting limitations in local medical resources. The situation, he said, reflects broader disparities in emergency and specialist care between Taiwan’s main island and its outlying regions.
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Friday’s incident highlighted how the ongoing budget standoff in Taipei is increasingly surfacing at local events in southern Taiwan.
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