Taipei mayor to form political party in challenge to Taiwan president's re-election

The mayor of Taipei said on Thursday he will form a political party to run in Taiwan's 2020 elections, a move that could complicate President Tsai Ing-wen's re-election and shake up the political landscape amid heightened tension with China.

Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je said he will set up the Taiwanese People's Party in a bid to run in the island's legislative elections in January but has not officially declared his intentions on whether to run in the presidential race.

The self-ruled island is also set to hold its presidential election in January at a time of precarious relations with China, which considers it a wayward province and has never ruled out the use of force to bring it under Beijing's control. (Reporting By Yimou Lee and Jeanny Kao; Editing by Paul Tait)

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