Taichung: Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen, widely recognized as a leading contender for the leadership of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), on Monday avoided directly answering whether she plans to participate in the party's upcoming chair election. When questioned about her potential candidacy, Lu diverted attention to the impending Tropical Storm Podul, which is expected to impact Taiwan between Wednesday and Thursday. "Preparing for the coming of typhoon Podul is my top priority right now," Lu stated upon her arrival at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport following a trip to Australia. She emphasized that she had been closely monitoring the storm's development while in Brisbane.
According to Focus Taiwan, Lu is also seen as a strong candidate for the 2028 presidential election. She embarked on a week-long visit to eastern and central Australia last Tuesday, shortly after the White House announced a provisional 20 percent tariff on Taiwanese goods set to begin on August 7. Prior to her departure, Lu expressed that such international exchanges could aid Taiwan in exploring markets beyond the United States. Her visit, as outlined by the Taichung City government, focused on fostering economic, trade, tourism, and energy cooperation.
During her visit, Lu met with Brisbane Mayor Adrian Schrinner and city councilor Sandy Landers on Friday. She later informed reporters that she had successfully engaged with all intended parties and visited all planned sites. Speculation regarding Lu's interest in the KMT chairmanship began earlier this year when the current KMT Chairman Eric Chu showed reservations about seeking re-election, amid challenges in opposition coordination with the Taiwan People's Party and tensions with the Lai Ching-te administration.
The KMT is set to conduct its chair election on October 18, with candidate registration scheduled for September 4-5, shortly after the second round of recall votes on August 23 targeting seven KMT lawmakers. Although Lu has not confirmed her intentions, some observers interpreted her remarks to Taiwanese expatriates in Australia, emphasizing peace and cooperation, as an indication she might refrain from running. An anonymous source told the United Daily News that Lu might choose not to enter the race to fulfill her commitment to complete her second term as mayor, which concludes in late 2026.