Taiwan's opposition KMT is floating a revived four-way star alliance for its next run at power — a sign the party is consolidating early rather than fighting internally.

• Chao Shao-kang proposed re-forming the old "Baldy, Swallow, Tough Guy" trio — Han Kuo-yu, Lu Shiu-yen and Hou Yu-ih — and adding Taipei mayor Chiang Wan-an.
• Taichung mayor Lu Shiu-yen backed the idea twice with "Good idea," saying more allies means more strength.
• The trio first caught fire eight years ago; Chiang is being added now because his popularity is running high.
• Lu, Han and Chiang appeared together a day earlier at a launch event for a proposed union of Taiwan's local governments.

Outlook: Expect the KMT to keep staging joint appearances of its big-city mayors as it lines up leadership for the next presidential cycle.