Cheng Li-chiun (; born 19 June 1969) is a Taiwanese politician who has served as the

vice premier of the Republic of China The Vice Premier of the Republic of China () serves as the deputy to the premier and is appointed by the president, on the recommendation of the Premier. The title of vice premier had been changed several times, so this list is divided into ...

since 2024. Before her vice premiership, she served as the

minister of Culture A culture minister or a heritage minister is a common cabinet position in governments. The culture minister is typically responsible for cultural policy, which often includes arts policy (direct and indirect support to artists and arts organiza ...

from 2016 to 2020.

Early life and education

Cheng was born in

Taipei City , nickname = The City of Azaleas , image_map = , map_caption = , pushpin_map = Taiwan#Asia#Pacific Ocean#Earth , coordinates = , subdivision_type = Countr ...

to a

Hoklo Taiwanese Hoklo Taiwanese or Holo people ( zh, t=河洛人/鶴老人/福佬人, poj=Ho̍h-ló-lâng) are a major ethnic group in Taiwan whose ancestry is wholly or partially Hoklo. Being Taiwanese of Han origin, their mother tongue is Taiwanese ( or ), ...

family. Her father was from

Miaoli County Miaoli is a county (Taiwan), county in western Taiwan. Miaoli is bordered by Hsinchu County and Hsinchu City to the north, Taichung to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the west. Miaoli is Regions of Taiwan, classified as "central Taiwan" by t ...

and her ancestors came directly from southeastern

Fujian Fujian is a provinces of China, province in East China, southeastern China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its capital is Fuzhou and its largest prefe ...

in China. After graduating from Taipei First Girls' High School, Cheng studied philosophy at

National Taiwan University National Taiwan University (NTU; zh, t=國立臺灣大學, poj=Kok-li̍p Tâi-oân Tāi-ha̍k, p=, s=) is a National university, national Public university, public research university in Taipei, Taiwan. Founded in 1928 during Taiwan under J ...

(NTU) and graduated with her bachelor's degree in the subject in 1992. As an undergraduate, she served as the founding president of a

glove puppetry Glove puppetry () is a type of opera using cloth puppets that originated during the 17th century in Quanzhou or Zhangzhou of China's Fujian province, and historically practised in the Min Nan-speaking areas such as Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, the Chaos ...

troupe from 1988 to 1989. After receiving her bachelor's degree from NTU, Cheng completed graduate studies in

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

in multiple fields. She earned a master's degree in

political philosophy Political philosophy studies the theoretical and conceptual foundations of politics. It examines the nature, scope, and Political legitimacy, legitimacy of political institutions, such as State (polity), states. This field investigates different ...

economic philosophy An economic ideology is a set of views forming the basis of an ideology on how the economy should run. It differentiates itself from economic theory in being normative rather than just explanatory in its approach, whereas the aim of economic the ...

, and

social philosophy Social philosophy is the study and interpretation of society and social institutions in terms of ethical values rather than empirical relations. Social philosophers emphasize understanding the social contexts for political, legal, moral and cultur ...

from

Paris Nanterre University Paris Nanterre University (), formerly University of Paris West, Paris-X and commonly referred to as Nanterre, is a public research university based in Nanterre, Hauts-de-Seine, France, in the Paris metropolitan area. It is one of the most pres ...

in 1995, and completed a second master's degree in history and civilization at the

School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences The School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (, EHESS) is a graduate ''grande école'' and '' grand établissement'' in Paris focused on academic research in the social sciences. The school awards Master and PhD degrees alone and conjo ...

. She then returned to Nanterre and earned her Ph.D. in philosophy, politics, economics and sociology in 2000.

Ministry of Culture

Cheng was appointed the

Minister of Culture A culture minister or a heritage minister is a common cabinet position in governments. The culture minister is typically responsible for cultural policy, which often includes arts policy (direct and indirect support to artists and arts organiza ...

on 20 May 2016. In April 2017, Cheng proposed a five-year infrastructure development program targeting Taiwanese historical sites to the Education and Culture Committee of the

Legislative Yuan The Legislative Yuan () is the unicameral legislature of the Republic of China (Taiwan) located in Taipei. The Legislative Yuan is composed of 113 members, who are directly elected for four-year terms by people of the Taiwan Area through a ...

. The plan set aside NT$5.66 billion for maintenance of historic sites and NT$15.8 billion for digital infrastructure construction. She stepped down from the position on 20 May 2020, and was replaced by Lee Yung-te. After leaving her post as culture minister, Cheng worked on a translation of '' The Little Prince'' to Chinese. She served in leadership roles for a number of nonprofit organizations, including the . During her political career, Cheng and fellow legislators Hsiao Bi-khim and Chiu Yi-ying gained the nickname "the S.H.E of the DPP."

Vice premiership

On 10 April 2024, president-elect Lai Ching-te designated Cheng as the vice premier of Taiwan.

Notes

References

1969 births Living people National Taiwan University alumni Taiwanese people of Hoklo descent Ministers of culture of Taiwan Vice premiers of the Republic of China on Taiwan University of Paris alumni Democratic Progressive Party Members of the Legislative Yuan Politicians of the Republic of China on Taiwan from Taipei Party List Members of the Legislative Yuan Members of the 8th Legislative Yuan Members of the 9th Legislative Yuan Women government ministers of Taiwan Taiwanese expatriates in France French–Chinese translators Taiwanese translators {{Taiwan-DPP-politician-stub