KMT localization faction (本土派) watch

There are frequent reports in the newspapers here about the "localization" faction (本土派) and more lately the "pro-Wang [Jin-pyng] (王金平)" faction (挺王派), but it is normally difficult to tell who belongs to these factions.

That's probably for a good reason. Any group of people within the KMT that openly identified with DPP-like Taiwan-oriented policies would likely face a quick flushing. That's why even Wang himself, who is seen as the faction's leader, has said in the past "not to call him" a pro-localization figure (「不要叫我本土派」). Only when announcing he would not run did he bring any localization-related complaints out into the open.

The secretive nature of the faction is also a result of a practical decision by reporters. They may only be able to get KMT figures who lean toward localization to make any statements unnamed or off the record. And if questioned on the record, these legislators or officials may well deny, as Wang did, having anything to do with a localization faction.

In addition, the issue is further complicated the overlap with another reform-minded group in the KMT, Often called the "50s-60s Alliance" or the "Middle-aged faction" (五六聯隊、青壯派). And remember, pro-localization does not mean pro-DPP.

That being said, one can still gather some sense of which legislators are thought of as pro-localization or pro-Wang. Let's take a look at the list, gathered using a few internet resources I've linked to here. And I will try to keep you updated on who is going to run for re-election in the next legislative run once the KMT has chosen all its nominees.

Pro-localization legislators (本土派) (11)
Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) | Hsu Shu-po (許舒博) | Tseng Tsai Mei-tso (曾蔡美佐) | Lin Yi-shih (林益世) | Lo Shih-hsiung (羅世雄) | Lin Nan-sheng (林南生) | Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) | Shyu Jong-shyoung (徐中雄) | Chen Hung-chang (陳宏昌) | Apollo Chen (陳學聖) | Chang Chang-tsai (張昌財)

Pro-localization KMT Central Standing Committee Members who aren't legislators (2)
Hung Yu-chin (洪玉欽) | Chu Feng-chi (朱風芝)

Other legislators called pro-Wang (5)

Huang Chao-shun (黃昭順)¹ | Ho Tsai-feng (侯彩鳳) | Caucus whip Kuo Su-chun (郭素春) | Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) | Chang Sho-wen (張碩文)

¹ Huang doesn't like the label

Sources:
Taipei Times article
This pdf document, which seems damaged but who's content could be seen in part on google search results