Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te has revived the idea of relocating the Legislative Yuan and the Executive Yuan to Taichung — good news for the city, though unlikely to happen any time soon.

• Speaking at an event in Taichung, Lai Ching-te said he had indeed considered moving the Legislative Yuan and the Executive Yuan to Taichung in the past.
• He argued that relocating the capital would make Taiwan's development more balanced and the country more resilient, but added that social consensus would have to come first.
• Legislative Yuan Deputy Speaker Chiang Chi-chen, a candidate for Taichung mayor, said the remarks show the central government endorses his push to build Taichung into a "flagship city" and, in effect, the nation's capital.
• Chiang also called on the central government to commit real resources: speeding up the Taichung MRT, expanding the airport, double-tracking and elevating the coastal railway line, and improving road links to the Port of Taichung, as well as turning Taichung into a robotics manufacturing hub.

Outlook: Moving the capital will not happen in the near term, but the topic is set to become a central line of attack in the Taichung mayoral race.