Two independent candidates in Hualien were searched and summoned for questioning by prosecutors and investigators on the same day — one over Chinese funding of his campaign, the other over the alleged misuse of charitable donations — negative news both for their campaigns and for local politics.

• A candidate surnamed Chang, running as an independent for mayor of Hualien City, was found to have campaign funds linked to Chinese capital, and is suspected of taking instructions or funding from hostile external forces to carry out campaign activities.
• Prosecutors concluded that there was strong suspicion he had violated the Anti-Infiltration Act, but saw no need for detention, releasing him on bail of NT$60,000.
• The candidate has previously run four times as a New Party candidate for the Taipei City Council without success. This time his platform centres on securing direct flights between Taiwan, mainland China and Hong Kong, and on boosting tourism in Hualien.
• A council candidate surnamed Yang, investigated at the same time, is accused of diverting several million NT dollars in donations from a charitable association he heads to use as campaign funds. He has been detained over concerns he might collude with witnesses; two of the association's staff were released on bail.
• Over the two days of 12 and 13 October, prosecutors and investigators searched a total of 10 locations and brought in four people for questioning.

Outlook: The cases will now move into the investigation and indictment stages. The two men's candidacies, and the Hualien election more broadly, are certain to be affected, and investigations into Chinese capital's involvement in local elections are expected to widen further.