A Taiwanese civic group is pushing local election candidates to reveal who pays for and hosts their trips to China, a move aimed at blocking Beijing's influence in Taiwan's grassroots politics.

• Six Chiayi City mayoral and council candidates signed a pledge to disclose details of any official contact with China.
• The group behind it says mayors and councillors sit closest to local communities and public money, making them prime targets.
• Signers want voters to know who invites, hosts, and funds these trips, and want parties to set rules for their own candidates.
• Chiayi has already seen a conviction in a case where a former KMT council candidate took a sponsored trip to China tied to election meddling.
• Candidates who have not signed face a deadline to respond in writing; the group plans to publish the names of those who stay silent.

Outlook: The list of non-responders goes public in early October, turning China ties into a visible test in the year-end local races.