Taiwan's Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim used a Tainan campaign stop to make immigrant families central to the island's economic and survival strategy — a positive, inclusive message aimed at a growing voter bloc.

• Hsiao said new immigrants and their children are Taiwan's link to the world, and the country needs them for future global challenges, national survival, and industry.
• She spoke at a rally for Chen Ting-fei, the ruling DPP's candidate for Tainan mayor, alongside immigrant women backing the campaign.
• She drew on her own family — her mother came by boat from the US 60 years ago and lived in Tainan for 18 years, barely able to read a school notebook.
• She promised more systematic policies to help immigrants integrate, plus wider social care including expanded elder care and childcare to ease living costs.
• Taiwan's economy has been climbing for the past two to three years, she said, but some industries face a hard transition and need capable, responsible leadership.

Outlook: Expect the DPP to keep courting immigrant families as a voting bloc ahead of the Tainan mayoral race, with care and childcare spending as the main policy offer.