The Taiwan People's Party has fielded three candidates in local elections in Pingtung County, good news for voters looking for an alternative to the blue and green camps, but also an indication that the party's grassroots presence in southern Taiwan remains weak.

• Ko Wen-je travelled to Pingtung in person, accompanying county party chapter chairman Lin Yu-hsien as he registered his candidacy for county councillor.
• The TPP has only three candidates running in Pingtung, and Chaozhou Township representative Lin Yao-tsung is currently its sole incumbent, meaning the party is building from the ground up.
• Kuomintang Pingtung County magistrate candidate Su Ching-chuan appeared in support, publicly guaranteeing that blue-white cooperation in Pingtung would proceed without difficulty.
• Ko Wen-je stressed that the TPP "returns a favour for a favour," effectively laying the groundwork for future blue-white mutual assistance.
• Lin Yu-hsien is campaigning on six main local policy planks, including education, technology, transport and public health.

Outlook: Blue-white cooperation in Pingtung has already taken shape, and the year-end elections will test whether the TPP can genuinely win seats in the south.