Rao Ying-chi, a former deputy speaker of Taiwan's Legislative Yuan, has died at the age of 93. Former Democratic Progressive Party legislator Lai Kun-cheng has publicly recalled the two men's long-running relationship as political rivals, adding a footnote to Taitung's local political history.

• Rao Ying-chi was the Kuomintang's long-time strongman in Taitung, serving as deputy speaker of the Legislative Yuan and as KMT secretary-general.
• Lai Kun-cheng was drafted by the DPP to challenge Rao twice, in 1993 and 1996, losing both times but running him close.
• Taitung was a KMT stronghold in those years, and the DPP found an opening only because of the long-running split between the area's local factions, the Rao faction and the Cheng Lieh faction.
• The two men stood on opposite sides politically but stayed on good terms after the elections, with Rao remaining friendly toward his younger opponent from the same hometown.

Outlook: As Taitung's older generation of politicians passes from the scene, the old order built on local factions is fading into history.