Hsinchu Mayor Lin Chih-chien (林智堅) has proposed combining Hsinchu city and county to create a “Greater Hsinchu” special municipality, and on Monday said he would not seek election as its mayor. As a former Chiayi mayor, I understand his reason for doing so.
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said in her inaugural address in 2016: “Industrial planning strategy and national land use should not be fragmented or shortsighted. We must also pursue balanced regional development, which requires planning and coordination by the central administration, and it requires our local governments to uphold the spirit of regional joint governance.”
Tsai understands that Taiwan is