Lai Ching-te appeared in Nantou to stump for the Democratic Progressive Party's candidate, rolling out welfare policies for senior citizens — a boon for the county's elderly residents and a source of electoral pressure on the governing Kuomintang.

• With less than 100 days to go before the local government elections, Lai Ching-te chose Nantou as his first stop, throwing his support behind DPP county magistrate candidate Wen Shih-cheng.
• Wen Shih-cheng promised that, if elected, he would provide free dentures for elderly residents and roll out a "mobile hospital" programme sending medical vehicles into local communities.
• The monthly allowance on Nantou's senior citizen card would also be raised from NT$1,000 to NT$1,800.
• Lai Ching-te also called for a universal cash handout of NT$10,000 next year, saying he wants the whole population to share in the economic dividends brought by AI.
• He stressed that Wen Shih-cheng is free of corruption and would drive organised crime and corporate interests out of the county government.

Outlook: With the Nantou race now formally under way, welfare pledges and cash policies are expected to become the main battleground between the Blue and Green camps.