Stephen Hou's Website - Taiwan - Government & Politics

Description of Government

The Republic of China is governed by a Constitution promulgated December 25, 1947 on the mainland. The Government is headed by a President and Vice-President, who are elected by the people to four-year terms. The Government also consists of the National Assembly and five independent branches: Executive, Legislative, Judicial, Examination, and Control.

Taiwan saw much political change since the lifting of martial law in 1987. After the direct election of the president in 1996, Taiwan has been a full-fledged multi-party democracy. While in theory a federal system, the government structure was streamlined in 1998 by abolishing the "Taiwan Provincial Government", which administered all of Taiwan island except Taipei and Kaohsiung. Today, four political parties, described below, have significant influence in government. Taiwan's democracy is still relatively young, so it will take time for the party system to take a most stable form.

Political Parties

Kuomintang

The Kuomintang (KMT), or the Chinese Nationalist Party, is China's oldest political party, founded by Dr. Sun Yat-sen in the 1910's. In 1947, the KMT government of the Republic of China effected the current Constitution. In 1949, the government retreated to Taiwan, and the KMT government became a dictatorship. After political liberalization, however, the ROC has been a multi-party republic. The KMT supports eventual reunification with Mainland China only when it becomes democratic. In March 2000, the KMT lost the presidency and became an opposition party for the first time in history. Official homepage (Chinese)

Democratic Progressive Party

Recently inaugurated as the Taiwan's ruling party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was formed in 1986 by native Taiwanese who supported democratization and constitutional reform. The DPP officially supports independence from China and the establishment of a sovereign Republic of Taiwan, but has recently softened this position. DPP legislators became notorious in the 1980's for causing fistfights in the legislature. In the November 1997 local elections, the DPP surpassed the KMT for the first time in history. In March 2000, a new page in Taiwan history was turned when Chen Shui-bian of the DPP was elected president. Official homepage (English)

New Party

The New Party was formed in August 1993 by KMT members who disliked the "undemocratic and corrupt" practices of the KMT. Like the KMT, the NP supports reunification with Mainland China, but is seen as ultra-conservative by many people in Taiwan. The NP seeks to attracts voters who are unsatisfied with the KMT, but are opposed to Taiwan Independence. Although the NP is not as influential as the KMT or the DPP, it has substantially gained popularity in recent National Assembly and Legislative elections. However, its presidential candidate in 2000, writer Li Ao, received less than 1 percent of the vote. Official homepage (Chinese)

People First Party

In 1999, the KMT nominated Vice President Lien Chan as the KMT presidential candidate for the March 2000 election over the populist former Taiwan Governor James Soong. Soong decided to run as an independent and mobilized much support. In the election, Mr. Soong won 37% of the vote, barely losing to Chen Shui-Bian of the DPP with 39%. After the humiliating defeat of both Lien and Soong, Soong and his vice presidential running mate, Chang, announced the formation of the People First Party (PFP). Essentially a spin-off of the KMT, the PFP quickly gained members from legislators and formed a caucus in the Legislative Yuan even without elections. Many predict that the PFP will soon overshadow the NP and even the KMT as Taiwan's largest opposition party. Official hompage (Chinese)

Prominent Politicians

Chen Shui-Bian Party: Democratic Progressive Party Office: President (2000 - ), Mayor of Taipei (1994 - 1998) Description: A well-respected lawyer and supporter of Taiwan independence, Chen narrowly won the 2000 election with 39% of the vote. He has moderated the DPP's stance on independence.	Annette Lu Party: Democratic Progressive Party Office: Vice President (2000 - ) Description: Taiwan's highest ranked female official in history, Lu was imprisoned in 1979 for calling for independence. Currently, Lu is the target of Beijing's most vitriolic attacks because of her radical views.
Lee Teng-hui Party: Kuomintang Office: President (1988 - 2000), KMT Chairman (19?? - 2000) Description: Considered the father of democracy in Taiwan, Lee oversaw the ROC transform from a one-party dictatorship to a true multi-party democracy. However, KMT hardliners see him as a secret independence supporter, and forced him out as chairman to take responsibility for the party's defeat in the 2000 election.	Lien Chan Party: Kuomintang Office: KMT Chairman (2000 - ), Vice President (1990 - 2000) Description: A joke in Taiwan goes: "Lien makes Al Gore look exciting." The unpopular Lien come in 3rd in the 2000 election, an embarrassing defeat for the KMT. As KMT chairman, he has promised reforms to revitalize the party.
James Soong Party: People First Party (2000 - ), Kuomintang (? - 1999) Office: PFP Chairman (2000 - ), Governor of Taiwan Province (? - ?) Description: The charismatic former Taiwan governor ran as an independent in the 2000 election, baring losing to Chen. He soon set up the PFP, and though he nows holds no government position, Soong is a powerful opposition leader.	Ma Ying-jeou Party: Kuomintang Office: Mayor of Taipei (1998 - ) Description: Seen by many as the leader of the KMT, Ma ousted Chen as mayor of Taipei in 1998. Ma may rise as a future KMT presidential candidate in 2004 or 2008.
Frank Hsieh Party: Democratic Progressive Party Office: Mayor of Kaohsiung (1998 - ), DPP Chairman (2000 - ) Description: I don't know much about him.