Taiwan's opposition alliance between the KMT and the TPP is cracking ahead of November's local elections, which is bad news for both parties and good news for the ruling DPP.

• TPP chairman Huang Kuo-chang says the two parties had agreed the TPP would field the candidate for Zhubei mayor, but the deal collapsed.
• KMT chair Cheng Li-wun admitted the agreement existed but said she could not push it through because two KMT figures, Hsu Hsin-ying and Wu Hsu-chih, refused to accept the TPP's pick.
• Huang warned the basis for cooperation between the two parties is not permanent and could shake apart.
• TPP supporters are furious, and Huang says he is trying to contain the damage to Hsinchu County alone.
• Huang says he keeps records of the talks but sees no point in releasing them, and points to trouble in the Changhua race too.

Outlook: Expect more friction between the KMT and TPP as the November 28 local elections approach, weakening their shared goal of unseating President Lai Ching-te in 2028.