The Taiwan People's Party is making a push for a foothold in Taichung's city council, a modest but real test of whether the party can hold ground outside Taipei.

• Party chair Huang Kuo-chang joined six TPP candidates as they registered for Taichung city council seats on the first day of registration.
• The stated goal is to win all six races and form an official TPP caucus in the council, which would give the party formal standing in local politics.
• The six candidates are spread across separate districts, including Qingshui, Fengyuan, Xitun, Beitun, Taiping and Dali, so the party is spreading its bet rather than concentrating it.
• One of the six already holds a council seat, so the party is defending an incumbent while trying to add five newcomers.

Outlook: The party is positioning itself as an independent third force heading into the local elections, and whether it clears the caucus threshold in Taichung will be an early read on its strength beyond the capital.