Taiwan's president is downplaying the combative side of election debates, framing it as neutral political messaging rather than hard news.

• President Lai Ching-te, who also chairs the ruling party, said the point of candidate debates isn't to beat the opponent in an argument, but to show democratic character and a vision for a city's future.
• He praised his party's candidates for the Kaohsiung and Taipei mayoral races for keeping their recent televised debates calm and policy-focused rather than combative.
• He tied this to a broader call for candidates to campaign in a "positive, sunny" way, sticking to policy explanations instead of attacks.
• The message is aimed at voters ahead of local elections, encouraging them to compare candidates' governing plans rather than debate performance.

Outlook: Expect the ruling party to keep emphasizing calm, policy-based messaging as the Kaohsiung and Taipei mayoral races continue.