The blue-white cooperation in the Zhubei City mayoral race in Hsinchu County is close to collapse — for Taiwan People's Party candidate Chiu Chen-yuan, this is both a source of pressure and a possible opportunity to build cross-party connections.

• Chiu Chen-yuan, the TPP's nominee for Zhubei mayor, has completed his registration paperwork, confirming his entry into the race.
• TPP Chairman Huang Kuo-chang said the Kuomintang unilaterally broke its promise, leaving blue-white integration on the verge of collapse.
• Huang revealed that several KMT legislators had called him on their own initiative, offering to form a group to campaign for Chiu in Zhubei.
• Chiu confirmed that he had received messages of concern from a number of former Legislative Yuan colleagues and cross-party friends, stressing that one should "have more friends and fewer enemies" and welcoming support from any camp.
• He said his team would see the campaign through at its own pace, seeking the support of Zhubei's 220,000 residents on the strength of his policy platform and governing experience.

Outlook: With blue-white cooperation broken down, the Zhubei race could turn into a three-way contest, and whether the KMT's grassroots really swing behind Chiu Chen-yuan will be the key question going forward.