Taipei: Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Huang Kuo-chang on Sunday congratulated former Legislator Cheng Li-wun on her election as Kuomintang (KMT) chairperson, indicating discussions for potential cooperation between the opposition parties.
According to Focus Taiwan, Huang expressed his intentions at an event in New Taipei, where he mentioned reaching out to Cheng and other KMT contenders post-election to wish them success. He emphasized the need for unity to address the division within Taiwanese society, attributed to President Lai Ching-te. Huang stated that the TPP is ready to collaborate with sincerity to form a unity government, even if differences exist with potential partners.
Huang revealed discussions with former TPP Chairman Ko Wen-je about creating a unity government, focusing on shared values rather than political positions. The idea of a TPP-KMT alliance traces back to Taiwan’s 2024 presidential elections, during which pressure mounted on both parties to field a joint ticket. Although negotiations for a joint ticket failed, the election results suggested that such an alliance might have been effective, given the close competition with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Despite the past failure to unite on a joint ticket, the KMT and TPP occasionally collaborate in the Legislature, where they hold a combined majority. Cheng and other KMT leadership candidates have expressed support for strengthening ties between the parties.
Addressing questions about potential cooperation in the 2026 local elections, Huang downplayed previous criticisms exchanged between Cheng and Ko, asserting such issues would not impede a TPP-KMT alliance. He stressed the importance of prioritizing Taiwan’s interests over past disagreements and expressed his intentions to run for New Taipei mayor.
Huang also referenced Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party’s coalition talks as a model of democratic maturity, sharing documents with Ko on forming cooperation agreements and multi-party Cabinets. This approach was part of their recent discussion, highlighting the potential for a strategic alliance mirroring successful practices in other democracies.