2026 ELECTIONS/Kaohsiung mayoral candidates outline AI industry development plans

Kaohsiung, Oct. 12 (CNA) Kaohsiung's two major-party mayoral candidates on Monday outlined their plans for developing the city's artificial intelligence (AI) industry, with proposals ranging from an AI industry cluster and closer industry-academia ties to wider access to AI education.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Lai Jui-lung (賴瑞隆) said Kaohsiung was well positioned to become an AI industry hub, citing its available land, power supply, talent pool and established industrial ecosystem.

Lai said the Asia New Bay Area had the potential to become such a hub. The area covers about 590 hectares, roughly twice the size of Taipei's Songshan Airport.

The former site of the now relocated 205th Arsenal military production site, which spans about 58 hectares within the area, could provide additional space for industrial development, he told a news conference.

Songshan Airport has drawn renewed attention since Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) weighed in last week on a long-running debate over its future, proposing that it be closed and replaced with an AI park.

Lai also cited Kaohsiung's electricity self-sufficiency rate of 134 percent in the first half of 2026, compared with about 2 percent in Taipei, saying the city's power supply and existing industrial supply chain could support further AI development.

Kuomintang candidate Ko Chih-en (柯志恩) has proposed developing AI parks and the drone industry, including flight control and geospatial information applications, her campaign office said.

Ko would also connect universities and businesses and integrate hardware and software resources to support investment, research and development, and real-world testing, the office said.

Ko has also proposed expanding AI education through school programs, teacher training and digital learning opportunities for workers, small and medium-sized businesses, and older adults, to make the technology more accessible in everyday life, the office added.

Election day in Kaohsiung is scheduled for Nov. 28, alongside Taiwan's other local elections. Voters in Kaohsiung will select a successor to incumbent Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) of the DPP, as well as the city's council.