Taichung's mayor dodged a question about relocating government offices to her city, instead pressing Taiwan's president and premier to go inspect severe flooding in the south — a sign the disaster is becoming a political fight.

• Asked about President Lai Ching-te's idea of moving the Executive Yuan and Legislative Yuan to Taichung, Mayor Lu Shiu-yen answered by talking about the floods instead.
• Southern Taiwan has been under water for days, with several counties hit and people still stuck in flooded homes.
• Lu said the president and premier should drop everything and visit the disaster zone to comfort victims.
• She pointed to Tsai Ing-wen visiting a past flood — mocked at the time for touring in an armored vehicle — as at least showing up.
• Lai had framed the capital move as a way to balance the country's regions and make the state more resilient, but admitted it needs public buy-in.

Outlook: Expect pressure on Lai and his premier to make a southern flood visit soon, with the capital-relocation idea sidelined until the water recedes.