Three leading KMT figures from local government and the Legislative Yuan publicly joined forces, but left out party chair Cheng Li-wun, exposing divisions within the blue camp to public view and handing the DPP an opening to attack.

• Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen, Legislative Yuan Speaker Han Kuo-yu and Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an appeared on the same stage, with Lu saying that if the KMT is to return to power, all three are indispensable.
• DPP legislative caucus secretary-general Chuang Jui-hsiung mocked the three as each harbouring their own agenda — allied on the surface, but each with private calculations.
• Party chair Cheng Li-wun's exclusion has been described as a tug-of-war within the KMT between its pro-China line and its localist line.
• Chuang joked about Han Kuo-yu's fondness for mahjong, saying it takes "four at a table" to make up a game, hinting that Beijing would be unhappy about whoever was missing.
• He stressed that no politician, however powerful, can be greater than the constitution, and that who wins the top job is ultimately decided by voters.

Outlook: The struggle between the three men's cooperation and Cheng Li-wun's party leadership is expected to continue playing out as the next round of election preparations takes shape.