Editing Taiwan (section)

====Transition to democracy====
{{See also|Politics of the Republic of China}}

[[File:President Lee teng hui.png|thumb|upright|In 1988, [[Lee Teng-hui]] became the first president of the Republic of China born in Taiwan and was the first to be directly elected in 1996.]]

After Chiang Ching-kuo's death in 1988, [[Lee Teng-hui]] became the first president of the ROC born in Taiwan.<ref>{{cite news |date=14 January 1988 |title=Taiwan Leader Chiang Dies; Pushed Reform |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-01-14-mn-36123-story.html |access-date=14 January 2023 |archive-date=14 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114130902/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-01-14-mn-36123-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Lee's administration oversaw a period of [[democratization]] in which the [[Temporary Provisions against the Communist Rebellion]] were abolished and the [[Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China|Additional Articles of the Constitution]] were introduced.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Chiou |first=C.L. |year=1993 |title=The 1990 National Affairs Conference and the future of democracy in Taiwan |journal=Bulletin of Concerned Asian Scholars |volume=25 |issue=1 |pages=17–33 |doi=10.1080/14672715.1993.10408343|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="Tang1999">{{cite conference |last=Tang |first=Dennis Te-chung |year=1999 |title=Constitutional Reforms in Taiwan in the 1990s |url=https://idv.sinica.edu.tw/dennis/19990712.pdf |conference=5th World Congress of the International Association of Constitutional Law |publisher=Erasmus University |access-date=14 January 2023 |archive-date=14 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114130909/https://idv.sinica.edu.tw/dennis/19990712.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Congressional representation was allocated to only the [[Free area of the Republic of China|Taiwan Area]],<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Leng |first1=Shao-chuan |last2=Lin |first2=Cheng-yi |year=1993 |title=Political Change on Taiwan: Transition to Democracy? |journal=The China Quarterly |volume=136 |issue=136 |pages=805–839 |doi=10.1017/S0305741000032343 |jstor=655592 |s2cid=154907110}}</ref> and Taiwan underwent a process of [[Taiwanese nationalism|localization]] in which Taiwanese culture and history were promoted over a [[Chinese nationalism#In Taiwan|pan-China viewpoint]]<ref>{{cite journal |last=Chang |first=Bi-yu |year=2004 |title=From Taiwanisation to De-sinification |journal=China Perspectives |volume=56 |issue=6 |doi=10.4000/chinaperspectives.438|doi-access=free }}</ref> while [[Cultural assimilation|assimilationist]] policies were replaced with support for [[multiculturalism]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Klöter |first=Henning |year=2004 |title=Language Policy in the KMT and DPP eras |journal=China Perspectives |volume=56 |issue=6 |doi=10.4000/chinaperspectives.442|doi-access=free }}</ref> In 1996, Lee was re-elected in [[1996 Taiwanese presidential election|the first direct presidential election]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Richburg |first=Keith B. |date=24 March 1996 |title=China Fails to Sway Election in Taiwan |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1996/03/24/china-fails-to-sway-election-in-taiwan/224dd1fa-3b95-40b1-ad92-d25f99f4a9fb/ |access-date=14 January 2023 |archive-date=28 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328162747/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1996/03/24/china-fails-to-sway-election-in-taiwan/224dd1fa-3b95-40b1-ad92-d25f99f4a9fb/ |url-status=live }}</ref> During Lee's administration, both he and his party were involved in corruption controversies that came to be known as "[[black gold (politics)|black gold]]" politics.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ching|first=Heng-wei|date=22 May 2000|title=Lee Teng-hui and the workings of the political machine|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2000/05/22/0000037016|work=Taipei Times|access-date=14 January 2023|archive-date=14 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114130902/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2000/05/22/0000037016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Fell|first=Dafydd|year=2005|title=Political and Media Liberalization and Political Corruption in Taiwan|journal=The China Quarterly|volume=184|issue=184|pages=875–893|doi=10.1017/S0305741005000548|jstor=20192543|s2cid=153762560|url=https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/3536/1/fell_political_corruption_in_taiwan.pdf|access-date=16 January 2023|archive-date=11 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711092925/https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/3536/1/fell_political_corruption_in_taiwan.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Chung|first=Lawrence|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3095139/lee-teng-hui-controversial-figure-hailed-taiwans-father|title=Lee Teng-hui, a controversial figure hailed as Taiwan's "father of democracy"|work=South China Morning Post|date=30 July 2020|access-date=14 January 2023|archive-date=14 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114130902/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3095139/lee-teng-hui-controversial-figure-hailed-taiwans-father|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Chen Shui-bian]] of the DPP was [[2000 Taiwanese presidential election|elected as the first non-KMT president in 2000]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/elect/archives/2000/03/19/0000028457|title=39% – A-bian wins – just|work=Taipei Times|date=19 March 2000|access-date=14 January 2023|archive-date=14 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114130904/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/elect/archives/2000/03/19/0000028457|url-status=live}}</ref> However, Chen lacked legislative majority. The opposition KMT developed the [[Pan-Blue Coalition]] with other parties, mustering a slim majority over the DPP-led [[Pan-Green Coalition]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Huang|first=Tong-yi|year=2002|title=Taiwan's 2001 Elections and Its Ongoing Democratic Consolidation|journal=American Journal of Chinese Studies|volume=9|issue=1|pages=43–57|jstor=44288689}}</ref> Polarized politics emerged in Taiwan with the Pan-Blue preference for eventual [[Chinese unification]], while the Pan-Green prefers [[Taiwan independence movement|Taiwanese independence]].

Chen's reference to "[[One Country on Each Side]]" of the Taiwan Strait undercut [[cross-Strait relations]] in 2002.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Rigger|first=Shelley|author1-link=Shelley Rigger|year=2003|title=Taiwan in 2002: Another Year of Political Droughts and Typhoons|journal=Asian Survey|volume=43|issue=1|pages=41–48|doi=10.1525/as.2003.43.1.41}}</ref> He pushed for the [[2004 Taiwanese cross-Strait relations referendum|first national referendum]] on cross-Strait relations,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/03/21/2003107136|title=Controversial victory for Chen|work=Taipei Times|date=21 March 2004|access-date=14 January 2023|archive-date=14 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114130906/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/03/21/2003107136|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.president.gov.tw/NEWS/1705|title=President Chen's Interview by the Washington Post|website=The Office of the President|date=30 March 2004|access-date=14 January 2023|archive-date=16 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816171022/https://english.president.gov.tw/NEWS/1705|url-status=live}}</ref> and called for an end to the [[National Unification Council]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4753974.stm|work=BBC News|title=Taiwan scraps unification council|date=27 February 2006|access-date=9 June 2017|archive-date=9 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409001459/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4753974.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> State-run companies began dropping "China" references in their names and including "Taiwan".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2007/02/10/2003348385|title=State-run firms begin name change|work=Taipei Times|date=10 February 2007|access-date=18 January 2023|archive-date=16 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816171105/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2007/02/10/2003348385|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2008, [[2008 Taiwanese United Nations membership referendums|referendums]] asked whether Taiwan should join the UN.<ref name="lam200803">{{cite journal | last = Lam | first = Willy | title = Ma Ying-jeou and the Future of Cross-Strait Relations | journal = China Brief | volume = 8 | issue = 7 | date = 28 March 2008 | url = http://jamestown.org/china_brief/article.php?articleid=2374064 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080413105956/http://www.jamestown.org/china_brief/article.php?articleid=2374064 |archive-date = 13 April 2008 }}</ref> This act alienated moderate constituents who supported the status quo, as well as those with cross-strait economic ties. It also created tension with the mainland and disagreements with the United States.<ref name="NYT2008">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/12/world/asia/12taiwan.html|title=Taiwan's Independence Movement Likely to Wane|last=Wong|first=Edward|date=12 March 2008|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=20 February 2017|archive-date=1 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701092006/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/12/world/asia/12taiwan.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Chen's administration was also dogged by public concerns over reduced economic growth, legislative gridlock, and [[Chen Shui-bian corruption charges|corruption investigations]].<ref name="economist20080323">{{cite news|title=The Nationalists are back in Taiwan|url=https://www.economist.com/asia/2008/03/23/the-nationalists-are-back-in-taiwan|newspaper=The Economist|date=23 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116201415/https://www.economist.com/asia/2008/03/23/the-nationalists-are-back-in-taiwan|archive-date=16 November 2018}}</ref><ref name="ft20080325">{{Cite news | title = Straitened times: Taiwan looks to China | newspaper = Financial Times | date = 25 March 2008 | url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/07d43e18-fa9a-11dc-aa46-000077b07658.html | access-date = 2 April 2012 | archive-date = 29 March 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080329221133/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/07d43e18-fa9a-11dc-aa46-000077b07658.html | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="NYT2008" />

[[File:太陽花學運 IMG 5932 (13822412824).jpg|thumb|Students occupied the Legislative Yuan [[Sunflower Student Movement|in protest against]] a controversial [[Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement|trade agreement with China]] in March 2014.]]

The KMT's nominee [[Ma Ying-jeou]] won the [[2008 Republic of China presidential election|2008 presidential election]] on a platform of increased economic growth and better ties with the PRC under a policy of "[[Special non-state-to-state relations|mutual non-denial]]".<ref name="lam200803" /> Under Ma, Taiwan and China opened up direct flights and cargo shipments.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=4&post=4430|title=Going Straight Ahead|website=Taiway Today|date=1 December 2009|access-date=18 January 2023|archive-date=11 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211122718/https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=4&post=4430|url-status=live}}</ref> The PRC government even made the atypical decision to not demand that Taiwan be barred from the annual [[World Health Assembly]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/04/30/2003442391|title=WHO invites "Chinese Taipei" to WHA|work=Taipei Times|date=30 April 2009|access-date=18 January 2023|archive-date=31 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131203708/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/04/30/2003442391|url-status=live}}</ref> Ma also made an official apology for the White Terror.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7509805.stm |title=Taiwan sorry for white terror era |first=Caroline |last=Gluck |date=16 July 2008 |work=BBC News |access-date=2 April 2012 |archive-date=3 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403044423/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7509805.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Stolojan|first1=Vladimir|last2=Guill|first2=Elizabeth|title=Transitional Justice and Collective Memory in Taiwan: How Taiwanese Society is Coming to Terms with Its Authoritarian Past|year=2017|journal=China Perspectives|volume=2017/2|issue=2 (110) |pages=27–35|doi=10.4000/chinaperspectives.7327|jstor=26380503|doi-access=free}}</ref> However, closer economic ties with China raised concerns about its political consequences.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mearsheimer|first=John J.|title=Say Goodbye to Taiwan|url=https://nationalinterest.org/article/say-goodbye-taiwan-9931|website=The National Interest|date=25 February 2014|access-date=18 January 2023|archive-date=29 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629063027/https://nationalinterest.org/article/say-goodbye-taiwan-9931|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Ho|first=Ming-sho|year=2015|title=Occupy Congress in Taiwan: Political Opportunity, Threat, and the Sunflower Movement|journal=Journal of East Asian Studies|volume=15|issue=1|pages=69–97|doi=10.1017/S1598240800004173|doi-access=free}}</ref> In 2014, university students occupied the Legislative Yuan and prevented the ratification of the [[Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement]] in what became known as the [[Sunflower Student Movement]]. The movement gave rise to youth-based third parties such as the [[New Power Party]], and is viewed to have contributed to the DPP's victories in the [[2016 Taiwanese presidential election|2016 presidential]] and [[2016 Taiwanese legislative election|legislative elections]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ho |first1=Ming-sho |title=The Activist Legacy of Taiwan's Sunflower Movement |url=https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2018/08/the-activist-legacy-of-taiwans-sunflower-movement?lang=en |website=[[Carnegie Endowment for International Peace]] |access-date=4 March 2021 |archive-date=16 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816171033/https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2018/08/the-activist-legacy-of-taiwans-sunflower-movement?lang=en&center=global |url-status=live }}</ref> the latter of which resulted in the first DPP legislative majority in Taiwanese history.<ref>{{cite news|last=Chow|first=Jermyn|title=Historic change as KMT loses long-held Parliament majority|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/historic-change-as-kmt-loses-long-held-parliament-majority|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=17 January 2016|access-date=1 November 2022|archive-date=1 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101173134/https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/historic-change-as-kmt-loses-long-held-parliament-majority|url-status=live}}</ref>
In January 2024, [[Lai Ching-te|William Lai Ching-te]] of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party won Taiwan's [[2024 Taiwanese presidential election|presidential elections]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Photos: Taiwan holds closely watched presidential and parliamentary polls |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2024/1/13/taiwan-votes-in-closely-watched-presidential-and-parliamentary-elections |work=Al Jazeera |language=en |access-date=15 January 2024 |archive-date=15 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115103631/https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2024/1/13/taiwan-votes-in-closely-watched-presidential-and-parliamentary-elections |url-status=live }}</ref> However, no party won a majority in the simultaneous Taiwan's [[2024 Taiwanese legislative election|legislative election]] for the first time since 2004, meaning 51 seats for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), 52 seats for the Kuomintang (KMT), and the [[Taiwan People's Party]] (TPP) secured eight seats.<ref>{{cite news |title=No party gets majority in Legislature; KMT wins most seats – Focus Taiwan |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202401130014 |work=Focus Taiwan – CNA English News |date=13 January 2024 |access-date=15 January 2024 |archive-date=4 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204163716/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202401130014 |url-status=live }}</ref>