Taiwan's local election battles are warming up early. The DPP has fielded Su Chiao-hui in New Taipei, and with the president and the former president appearing together on stage in support, the message for the ruling party's morale is a positive one.

• Su Chiao-hui set up her campaign headquarters in Banqiao, formally throwing down the gauntlet for the New Taipei mayoralty.
• Lai Ching-te and Tsai Ing-wen took the stage together, with Tsai Ing-wen also serving as director of the campaign headquarters.
• The two highlighted Su Chiao-hui's 10 years of experience as a legislator and called for "New Taipei's first female mayor."
• Lai Ching-te said New Taipei should not be merely a satellite city of other cities, and that it must rely on innovation, talent and AI to drive industrial transformation.
• Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim also joined the campaign effort, signalling that the party leadership is betting heavily on this seat.

Outlook: New Taipei is the largest vote bank among the six special municipalities, and both the blue and green camps will pour resources into it. This race will be a bellwether for next year's local elections.