The Kuomintang has elevated Huang Fu-hsing, its veterans' organisation, to a first-tier central unit — a boost for the party's military networks and a sign that mobilisation for the year-end elections has already begun.

• The KMT Central Standing Committee approved an amendment to the party's organisational rules, adding a "Huang Fu-hsing Committee" as the eighth major central department.
• The Veterans Department, previously housed under the Organisational Development Committee, was abolished at the same time, effectively raising Huang Fu-hsing's standing.
• Party chair Cheng Li-wun has been calling for the restoration of the Huang Fu-hsing party branch ever since her election last year; this counts as delivering on that pledge, though the form has changed from a "party branch" to a "committee".
• The new unit is responsible for liaising with serving and retired officers and enlisted personnel, their dependants, and pan-military associations, with its work focused on gauging opinion within military circles, organisational mobilisation, and campaign support.
• Vice Chairman Chi Lin-lien will serve concurrently as its convener, placing someone from a military background directly in charge.

Outlook: The Huang Fu-hsing Committee will be deployed for mobilisation ahead of the year-end elections, and the military vote will be a key focus of the KMT's ground game going forward.