Taichung is sending its deputy mayor to a trade show in China to drum up orders for local factories and bakeries, a plus for those businesses but a political flashpoint at home.

• Deputy mayor Cheng Chao-hsin heads to Dongguan on September 2 for a Taiwan products expo.
• Mayor Lu Shiu-yen says the trip is purely about finding markets and business for Taichung's machinery and pastry makers.
• Those older industries are struggling to grow sales or even stay afloat while Taiwan's chip sector booms.
• Opposition city councillors suspect the trip could include quiet meetings with Beijing's Taiwan affairs officials.
• Lu is widely seen as a presidential contender, which is why any China contact draws scrutiny.

Outlook: Expect the trip to go ahead as a business mission, with critics watching closely for any sign of political contact.