A former Taiwan People's Party lawmaker who came from mainland China wants to run for mayor of Zhubei, and election officials are signaling the residency clock may not work in her favor.

• Li Zhenxiu announced she will run for mayor of Zhubei City in Hsinchu County.
• Candidates must swear they hold no household registration in mainland China and no foreign citizenship.
• Spouses from the mainland must also have lived in Taiwan with registered residency for 10 years.
• Those 10 years now start from the day proof of giving up mainland registration is filed, not from getting a Taiwan ID.
• That means anyone running in the 2026 local elections had to file that proof by 2017.

Outlook: Her eligibility will not be settled until she formally registers and officials review her paperwork.