TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — KMT Vice Chair Lien Sheng-wen (連勝文) on Monday appealed to campaign teams and supporters to stop tactics that could hurt the party as its chair election nears, CNA reported.

Lien said he and his father, former Vice President Lien Chan (連戰), were also targeted by fake online accounts spreading false claims. He warned that such actions only give the DPP more reasons to attack the KMT, according to Lien's social media post.

He said the KMT has not funded any polling for the election, adding that resources are instead reserved for helping party members facing legal cases linked to political persecution.

Lien reminded all campaign teams to avoid smear tactics. He said false accusations could harm post-election unity and further weaken the KMT.

He noted the party has gone through three major elections in under four years, leaving it in a fragile state. Lien urged candidates to show concrete plans to help KMT regain public trust once the new chair assumes office.

The KMT chair election will be held on Saturday. The party's leadership race has become increasingly tense amid allegations of Chinese interference.

Candidate Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) said fake accounts have circulated smear videos about him. Meanwhile, candidate Chang Ya-chung (張亞中) claimed some campaigns have worked with Chinese AI firms to attack other candidates, per UDN.

Candidate Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) said the controversy reflects challenges of “the AI era.” She urged party members to adapt to the digital age and finish the election calmly and rationally.