1996 Taiwanese Presidential Election
Presidential elections were held in Taiwan on 23 March 1996. It was the first Direct election, direct presidential election in Taiwan, officially the Republic of China. In the previous eight elections the president and vice president had been chosen in a ballot of the deputies of the National Assembly (Republic of China), National Assembly, in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of China, 1947 constitution. These were the first free and direct elections in the history of Taiwan. Lee Teng-hui was re-elected President of the Republic of China, President and Lien Chan as Vice President. Lee stood as the candidate of the ruling Kuomintang. He won a majority of 54% of the votes cast. His election followed Third Taiwan Strait Crisis, missile tests by the People's Republic of China (PRC). These were an attempt to intimidate the Taiwanese electorate and discourage them from supporting Lee, however the tactic backfired. Voter turnout was 76.0%. Candidates The ruling Kuomintan ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Lee Teng-hui
Lee Teng-hui (; pinyin: ''Lǐ Dēnghuī''; 15 January 192330 July 2020) was a Taiwanese politician and agricultural scientist who served as the fourth president of the Republic of China, president of the Taiwan, Republic of China (Taiwan) under Constitution of the Republic of China, the 1947 Constitution and chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT) from 1988 to 2000. He was the first president to be born in Taiwan, the last to be 1990 Taiwanese presidential election, indirectly elected and the first to be 1996 Taiwanese presidential election, directly elected. Before entering politics, Lee was an agricultural scientist who earned a master's degree from Iowa State University and a PhD from Cornell University in the United States. During his presidency, Lee oversaw the end of Martial law in Taiwan, martial law and the full History of Taiwan (1945–present), democratization of the ROC, advocated the Taiwanese localization movement, and initiated foreign policy agenda to gain allies all o ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Third Taiwan Strait Crisis
The Third Taiwan Strait Crisis, also called the 1995–1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis, or the 1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis, was the effect of a series of missile tests conducted by the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the waters surrounding Taiwan, including the Taiwan Strait, from 21 July 1995 to 23 March 1996. The first set of missiles fired in mid-to-late 1995 was allegedly intended to send a strong signal to the Republic of China government under President Lee Teng-hui, who had been seen as "moving its foreign policy away from the One-China policy", as claimed by PRC. The second set of missiles was fired in early 1996, allegedly intending to intimidate the Taiwanese electorate in the run-up to the 1996 presidential election. Lee's 1995 visit to Cornell The crisis began when President Lee Teng-hui accepted an invitation from his alma mater, Cornell University, to deliver a speech on "Taiwan's Democratization Experience". Seeking to diplomatically isolate the Republic of Chi ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Chinese Unification
Chinese unification, also known as Cross-Strait unification or Chinese reunification, is the potential unification of territories currently controlled, or claimed, by the People's Republic of China ("China" or "Mainland China") and the Republic of China ("Taiwan") under one political entity, possibly the formation of a political union between the two republics. Together with full Taiwan independence, unification is one of the main proposals to address questions on the political status of Taiwan, which is the central focus of Cross-Strait relations. Background In 1895, the Manchu-led Qing dynasty of China lost the First Sino-Japanese War and was forced to cede Taiwan and Penghu to the Empire of Japan after signing the Treaty of Shimonoseki. In 1912, the Qing dynasty was overthrown and was succeeded by the Republic of China (ROC). Based on the theory of the succession of states, the ROC originally lay claim to the entire territory which belonged to the Qing dynasty during ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Taiwan Independence
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast, and the Philippines to the south. It has an area of , with mountain ranges dominating the eastern two-thirds and plains in the western third, where its highly urbanized population is concentrated. The combined territories under ROC control consist of 168 islands in total covering . The largest metropolitan area is formed by Taipei (the capital), New Taipei City, and Keelung. With around 23.9 million inhabitants, Taiwan is among the most densely populated countries. Taiwan has been settled for at least 25,000 years. Ancestors of Taiwanese indigenous peoples settled the island around 6,000 years ago. In the 17th century, large-scale Han Chinese immigration began under Dutch colonial ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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February 28 Incident
The February 28 incident (also called the February 28 massacre, the 228 incident, or the 228 massacre) was an anti-government uprising in Taiwan in 1947 that was violently suppressed by the Kuomintang–led nationalist government of the Republic of China (1912–1949), Republic of China (ROC). Directed by Taiwan Province, provincial governor Chen Yi (Kuomintang), Chen Yi and president Chiang Kai-shek, thousands of civilians were killed beginning on February 28. The incident is considered to be one of the most important events in Taiwan's modern history and was a critical impetus for the Taiwan independence movement, Taiwan independence movement. In 1945, following the surrender of Japan at the End of World War II in Asia, end of World War II, the Allies of World War II, Allies handed administrative control of Taiwan over to China, thus ending 50 years of Taiwan under Japanese rule, Japanese colonial rule. Local residents became resentful of what they saw as high-handed and ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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One-China Policy
''One China'' is a phrase describing the relationship between the People's Republic of China (PRC) based on mainland China, and the Republic of China (ROC) based on the Taiwan Area. "One China" asserts that there is only one ''de jure'' Chinese nation, despite the '' de facto'' division between the two rival governments in the aftermath of the Chinese Civil War. The term may refer, in alphabetical order, to one of the following: * The ''One China policy'' refers to a United States policy of strategic ambiguity regarding Taiwan. In a 1972 joint communiqué with the PRC, the United States "acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China" and "does not challenge that position." It reaffirms the U.S. interest in a peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question. The United States has formal relations with the PRC, recognizes the PRC as the sole legal government of China, and simultaneously main ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Mainland China
"Mainland China", also referred to as "the Chinese mainland", is a Geopolitics, geopolitical term defined as the territory under direct administration of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the aftermath of the Chinese Civil War. In addition to the geographical mainland, the geopolitical sense of the term includes islands such as Hainan, Chongming Island, Chongming, and Zhoushan. By convention, territories outside of mainland China include: * Special administrative regions of China, which are regarded as subdivisions of the country, but retain distinct administrative, judicial and economic systems from those on the mainland: ** Hong Kong, formerly a British Hong Kong, British colony ** Macau, formerly a Portuguese Macau, Portuguese colony * Taiwan, along with Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu Islands, Matsu and other minor islands, are collectively known as the Taiwan Area, where has been the major territorial base of the government of the Republic of China (ROC) since 1950. Though the ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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You Ching
You Ching (; born 20 March 1942) is a Taiwanese diplomat who served as the Taiwanese representative to Germany from 2007 to 2008. Early life and education Born in Kaohsiung, You earned a bachelor's degree in law from the National Chengchi University (1965), a Master of Laws (LL.B.) from Chinese Culture University, and a doctorate in law from the University of Heidelberg (1978). He became a practicing lawyer in 1978. Entry into politics A '' Tangwai'' activist and Kaohsiung Incident lawyer, You Ching founded the Taiwan Panorama magazine (博觀; not to be confused with present-day Taiwan Panorama 台灣光華) in 1982. The magazine called for the establishment of an opposition party, at a time when the Kuomintang-imposed martial law disallowed any opposition parties. He was instrumental in drafting the founding documents of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Political career You was elected as the first non-Kuomintang member of the Control Yuan in 1980. After the establi ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Lin Yi-hsiung
Lin Yi-hsiung (; born 24 August 1941) is a Taiwanese politician and lawyer. He was a major leader of the Democracy, democratization movement in Taiwan. He was first exposed to politics in 1976 while serving as attorney for (1908–1985) who sued the ruling KMT party for electoral fraud. Lin was elected a member of Taiwan Provincial Consultative Council in Kuo's old electorate in 1977. Education Lin graduated from National Taiwan University with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) in 1964. In 1987, he completed graduate studies in the United States at Harvard University, where he earned a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) from the Harvard Kennedy School. Lin family massacre On 13 December 1979, Lin was arrested for his involvement in the Kaohsiung Incident. His wife, Fang Su-min, and mother were first allowed to visit him on 27 February 1980; Lin was in detention and had been beaten severely by National Police Agency (Republic of China), Taiwanese police. Lin's 60-year-old mot ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Hsu Hsin-liang
Hsu Hsin-liang (; born 27 May 1941) is a Taiwanese politician, formerly Chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). He was a supporter of the Pan-Blue Coalition from 2000 to 2008 but then supported the DPP in the 2008 presidential election. Early life and education Hsu was born in Chūreki, Shinchiku Prefecture, Taiwan under Japanese rule, Japanese Taiwan (modern-day Zhongli District, Zhongli, Taoyuan City, Taoyuan, Taiwan). He attended Hsinchu Senior High School and received his bachelor's degree in political science from National Chengchi University in 1967 and his Kuomintang-sponsored master's degree from the University of Edinburgh in 1969. Political career Hsu began his political career in the Kuomintang as a member of the Taiwan Provincial Assembly from 1973 to 1977. He was expelled from the Kuomintang but broke ranks in 1977 when he ran and won as an independent in the election for Magistrate of Taoyuan County. The Zhongli incident took place during the election ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Democratic Progressive Party
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is a centre to centre-left Taiwanese nationalist political party in Taiwan. As the dominant party in the Pan-Green Coalition, one of the two main political camps in Taiwan, the DPP is currently the ruling party in Taiwan, leading a minority government that controls the presidency and the central government. Founded in 1986 by Hsu Hsin-liang, Roger Hsieh and Lin Shui-chuan, a year prior to the end of martial law, the DPP is one of two major parties in Taiwan, the other being the Kuomintang (KMT), a Chinese nationalist party previously ruling the country as a one-party state, and its smaller allies in the Pan-Blue Coalition. It has traditionally been associated with a strong advocacy of human rights, emerging against the authoritarian White Terror that was initiated by the KMT, as well as the promotion of Taiwanese nationalism and identity. Lai Ching-te is the current chairperson of the DPP from 2023, who also serves as t ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Judicial Yuan
The Judicial Yuan () is the Judiciary, judicial branch of the Republic of China.''See'' Constitution arts. 77-82, ''available at'' ''See'' Additional Articles of the Constitution art. 5, ''available at'' It functions as the Constitutional Court and oversees the courts of Taiwan, including the ordinary courts such as the Supreme Court of the Republic of China, Supreme Court, High court (Taiwan), high courts, and District court (Taiwan), district courts as well as special courts like administrative, and disciplinary courts. The Judicial Yuan holds the following powers:''See'' Introduction to the Judicial Yuan, ''available at'' * ''Interpretation'' – Acting as the Constitutional Court to interpret the Constitution of the Republic of China, Constitution and other Law of Taiwan, statutes and regulations made by the Government of the Republic of China, central or Administrative divisions of Taiwan, local government. * ''Adjudication'' – Most civil, criminal, and administrative ca ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |