Lu Xiuyan's popularity has surged sharply, she visited Australia to layout her campaign for the 2028 election, but still needs to overcome three major obstacles.

Lu Xiuyan has become the biggest obstacle on Lai Ching-te's path to re-election in 2028, and this trend is becoming increasingly evident. After a complete victory in the anti-repeal campaign, even the "most dangerous" Taichung legislator Liao Weixiang, who was listed on the highest risk list, passed through, Lu Xiuyan, the "popular idol" within the Kuomintang and mayor of Taichung, saw her support rate surge again, leaving Lai Ching-te far behind. A recent survey in Taiwan shows that Lu Xiuyan's satisfaction with governance is 65.8%, significantly ahead of Lai Ching-te's 39.3%; in terms of dissatisfaction, Lai Ching-te reached 49.9%, while Lu Xiuyan only 27.5%, forming a double overwhelming gap.

At the current time of rising popularity, Lu Xiuyan visited Australia yesterday, which is her second trip abroad this year, following Japan. This visit came at a time when the cross-strait tariff equality policy was just announced and dissatisfaction with Lai's administration reached a new high, sending a very clear political signal - that Lu Xiuyan is raising her strategic height from an "international perspective", actively laying out for the 2028 election, preparing to challenge Lai Ching-te.

However, for Lu Xiuyan, to maintain her political momentum and aim for the top in 2028, she still needs to steadily overcome three major obstacles: first, to successfully pass the second round of the August 23rd large recall vote, ensuring another "complete victory" over the Democratic Progressive Party, ultimately achieving a 31:0 win in two rounds, including not losing any seat in her base area, Taichung City, and keeping the grassroots solid. Second, smoothly taking over the chairmanship of the Kuomintang from Chu Li-lun, controlling the party machine while also managing the Taichung city affairs well, avoiding the exhaustion of personal energy by burning both ends. Third, leading the Kuomintang to win the "nine-in-one" elections next year, especially ensuring the smooth handover of Taichung City to Jiang Qichen of the same party, avoiding a "blue sky turning green".

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1839672224329927/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author himself.