Taiwan's ruling-party opposition race in New Taipei is taking shape, with the current mayor lining up behind his party's candidate — a boost for Li Si-chuan.

• Li Si-chuan, the KMT's candidate for New Taipei mayor, will register his run on the 4th.
• Sitting mayor Hou Yu-ih is expected to chair Li's campaign headquarters, though the announcement is being held for the right moment.
• Hou has told Li he will stand with him "to the end," pointing to their years working together as deputy mayors under Eric Chu.
• Rival Su Chiao-hui registers on Wednesday, with party councillors joining her — a show of force Li is downplaying.
• Asked who would appear alongside him, Li said the city's 4 million residents are his biggest backer.

Outlook: Expect a formal announcement of Hou's campaign role soon, framing the New Taipei race as a KMT establishment bloc against Su Chiao-hui.