Ahead of the start of the Taipei mayoral campaign, Democratic Progressive Party candidate Puma Shen has trained his fire on defence and social welfare spending, putting pressure on incumbent mayor Chiang Wan-an.

• Shen said he will definitely register as a candidate, with the date to be decided based on the Legislative Yuan's agenda.
• He criticised the opposition's version of the drone act for not being framed around national defence, saying it even spells out how military secrets are to be disclosed.
• He sees drones as an opportunity for technology to drive traditional industries, but the bill is stuck in the Legislative Yuan.
• He singled out KMT legislators for cutting even sheltered workshops and social welfare budgets, asking why Chiang Wan-an has not stepped in to stop Taipei's KMT lawmakers.

Outlook: Candidate registration is open from 31 August to 4 September, and the drone act goes to a third reading this Wednesday — both will carry the fight over defence and social welfare spending into the Taipei mayoral race.