Taipei's ruling KMT is signalling it wants to keep its cooperation with the smaller TPP to a minimum ahead of year-end local elections — a sign the blue-white alliance is more of a truce than a partnership.

• KMT Taipei chapter chief Tai Hsi-chin said Mayor Chiang Wan-an should appear at joint rallies for TPP city council candidates as rarely as possible, ideally just once.
• KMT council candidates agreed Chiang will only join combined events, never campaign for a TPP candidate solo.
• Chiang, registering with KMT candidates for his re-election run, leaned on his record: the Taipei Dome, a tourism boost for the eastern shopping district, and landing Nvidia's Taipei site.
• The KMT is building 12 district-level support groups plus women's, youth and Hakka wings, with a nationwide rally planned for election eve.
• Asked about the alliance, Chiang stuck to a vague line about maximising blue-white seats; on the controversy over his son's exchange-student place he said all rules were followed.

Outlook: Expect the KMT to keep the TPP at arm's length in Taipei while still courting its voters, with the alliance tested as candidate registration closes.