Taiwan's November local elections are turning into a high-stakes fight, with New Taipei City the main battleground and both major parties pulling out their heavyweights.

• Democratic Progressive Party candidate Su Chiao-hui drew a crowd of more than 20,000 to her campaign launch in Banqiao, backed by President Lai Ching-te and former president Tsai Ing-wen — their first joint appearance in nearly a year.
• The opposition Kuomintang is countering with Lee Si-chuan, who campaigned alongside popular Taipei mayor Chiang Wan-an.
• China sent 20 military aircraft and drones toward Taiwan the same day, with 12 crossing the median line into Taiwan's air defense zone.
• The KMT is dealing with infighting in Changhua, where the sitting county chief broke down in public over how the party picked its candidate.
• A row over Chiang Wan-an's teenage son winning a competitive student exchange spot has become a political attack line, and the KMT's alliance talks with the smaller Taiwan People's Party have collapsed into public accusations of lying.

Outlook: Expect the New Taipei race to stay the centerpiece through the November 28 vote, with China's military pressure and opposition infighting both shaping the campaign.