Taiwan's opposition alliance between the KMT and the TPP is fraying over the Zhubei mayor race, a setback for both parties heading into local elections.

• KMT chair Cheng Li-wun reportedly told her lawmakers not to campaign for TPP candidate Chiu Chen-yuan in Zhubei.
• TPP leader Huang Kuo-chang brushed it off, saying his party will just push ahead on its own and keep backing Chiu.
• He claims many KMT lawmakers privately dislike the ban and have stayed friendly toward the TPP.
• In New Taipei the alliance still holds — the TPP is backing KMT mayoral candidate Lee Si-chuan, and KMT lawmakers have campaigned for TPP council candidates.
• Both sides want to maximize their combined seats on the New Taipei city council, which keeps the local truce intact.

Outlook: The Zhubei split looks contained for now, with a large Lee Si-chuan rally in Banqiao on October 4 set to test whether the two parties can still share a stage.