A Taiwanese writer's attack on KMT legislator Weng Hsiao-ling is turning into a headache for the party, and it looks bad for the KMT heading into the 2026 local elections.

• Weng, who has slashed and frozen government budgets and recently called herself "Chinese," is accused of behaving like a Chinese Communist Party "little pink" nationalist.
• The charge lists three traits: she shuts down dissent, plays the victim whenever criticized, and sides with the strong — blaming Taiwan's government instead of Beijing when Chinese warplanes circle the island.
• The damage is to the KMT brand: mayors like Lu Shiow-yen, Hou Yu-ih and Chiang Wan-an have spent years building a moderate, get-things-done image that this kind of confrontational style wipes out.
• KMT support has slid to around 19%, and candidates are stuck — cut Weng loose and the deep-blue base attacks them, keep her and swing voters walk.
• The comparison drawn is Huang Kuo-chang, whose shouting style helped drive the TPP down to roughly 6%, leaving votes the KMT now can't pick up.

Outlook: Young and centrist voters look likely to sit out or defect, which hands Lai Ching-te and the pro-Taiwan camp an opening in the 2026 local races.