Editing Democratic Progressive Party (section)

===2000–2008: in minority government===
[[File:Chen Shui-bian from VOA.jpg|thumb|right|Former President Chen Shui-bian, the first DPP [[President of the Republic of China|President]] (2000–2008)]]

The DPP won the presidency with the [[2000 Taiwan presidential election|election]] of [[Chen Shui-bian]] in March 2000 with a plurality, due to [[Pan-Blue]] voters splitting their vote between the Kuomintang and independent candidate [[James Soong]], ending 91 years of KMT rule in the Republic of China. Chen softened the party's stance on independence to appeal to moderate voters, appease the United States, and placate China. He also promised not to [[Four Noes and One Without|change the ROC state symbols or declare formal independence]] as long as the [[China|People's Republic of China]] did not attack Taiwan.  Further, he advocated for economic exchange with China as well as the establishment of transportation links.<ref name="rigger-39-49" />

In 2001, the DPP ran an advertisement promoting the party that featured [[Adolf Hitler]] and others in an attempt to encourage young people to engage with politics.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Yang |first=Meng-yu |date=July 18, 2001 |title=DPP suspends controversial party ad |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/trad/hi/newsid_1440000/newsid_1445700/1445723.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803094016/http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/trad/hi/newsid_1440000/newsid_1445700/1445723.stm |archive-date=August 3, 2023 |access-date=April 16, 2025 |work=BBC Chinese |language=Chinese}}</ref> The DPP initially responded to criticism from the Israeli and [[German Institute Taipei|German]] representative offices in Taiwan by saying the advertisement was meant to highlight "people who dared to express their opinions," and claimed some had deliberately misrepresented the content. The DPP's then chair [[Frank Hsieh]] later said the advertisement would be retired to avoid causing misunderstanding among [[Victims of Nazi Germany|victims]] of [[Nazism]].  

In 2002, the DPP became the first party other than the KMT to reach a plurality in the Legislative Yuan following the [[2001 Taiwan legislative election|2001 legislative election]]. However, a majority coalition between the KMT, [[People First Party (Republic of China)|People First Party]], and [[New Party (Republic of China)|New Party]] prevented it from taking control of the chamber.  This coalition was at odds with the presidency from the beginning, and led to President Chen's abandonment of the centrist positions that he ran his campaign on.<ref name="rigger-39-49" />

In 2003, Chen announced a campaign to draft a referendum law as well as a new constitution, a move which appealed to the fundamentalist wing of the DPP.  By now, the New Tide faction had begun to favor pragmatic approaches to their pro-independence goals and dominated decision-making positions within the party.  By contrast, grassroots support was divided largely between moderate and fundamentalist wings.  Though Chen's plans for a referendum on a new constitution were scuttled by the legislature, he did manage to include a largely symbolic [[2004 Taiwanese cross-Strait relations referendum|referendum on the PRC military threat]] to coincide with the [[2004 Taiwan presidential election|2004 presidential election]].<ref name="rigger-39-49" />  [[President of the Republic of China|President]] Chen Shui-bian would be narrowly re-elected in 2004 after an [[3-19 shooting incident|assassination attempt]] the day before the election, and in the [[2004 Taiwan legislative election|later legislative election]], the pan-blue coalition opposition retained control of the chamber.

President Chen's moves sparked a debate within the party between fundamentalists and moderates who were concerned that voters would abandon their party.  The fundamentalists won out, and as a result the DPP would largely follow Chen's lead.  The DPP suffered a significant election defeat in nationwide [[2005 Taiwanese local elections|local and county elections in December 2005]], while the pan-blue coalition captured 16 of 23 county and city government offices under the leadership of popular [[Taipei]] mayor and KMT Party Chairman [[Ma Ying-jeou]].  Moderates within the party would blame this loss on the party's fundamentalist turn.<ref name="rigger-39-49" />

The results led to a shake up of the party leadership. [[Su Tseng-chang]] resigned as DPP chairman soon after election results were announced. Su had pledged to step down if the DPP lost either Taipei County or failed to win 10 of the 23 mayor/magistrate positions. Vice President [[Annette Lu]] was appointed acting DPP leader. Presidential Office Secretary-General [[Yu Shyi-kun]] was elected in a [[2006 Democratic Progressive Party chairmanship election|three-way race]] against legislator [[Chai Trong-rong]] and [[Wong Chin-chu]] with 54.4% of the vote.

Premier [[Frank Hsieh]], DPP election organizer and former mayor of [[Kaohsiung]] twice tendered a verbal resignation immediately following the election, but his resignation was not accepted by President Chen until 17 January 2006 after the DPP chairmanship election had concluded. The former DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang was appointed to replace Hsieh as premier. Hsieh and his cabinet resigned en masse on 24 January to make way for Su and his new cabinet. President Chen had offered the position of Presidential Office Secretary-General (vacated by Su) to the departing premier, but Hsieh declined and left office criticizing President Chen for his tough line on dealing with China.

In 2005, following the passage of the [[Anti-Secession Law]], the Chen administration issued a statement asserting the position that Taiwan's future should be decided by the people on Taiwan only.<ref>{{cite press release |publisher=Mainland Affairs Council, ROC Executive Yuan |date=29 March 2005 |title=The Official Position of the Republic of China on China's Passing of the Anti-secession (Anti-Separation) Law |url=http://www.mac.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=68048&ctNode=5910&mp=3 |quote=Section II-2: "'The Republic of China is an independent and sovereign state. Taiwan's sovereignty belongs to the 23 million people of Taiwan. Only the 23&nbsp;million citizens of Taiwan may decide on the future of Taiwan.' This statement represents the greatest consensus within Taiwan's society today concerning the issues of national sovereignty and the future of Taiwan. It is also a common position shared by both the ruling and opposition parties in Taiwan. A recent opinion poll shows that more than 90% of the people of Taiwan agree with this position. |access-date=16 February 2021 |archive-date=19 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161219111550/http://www.mac.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=68048&ctNode=5910&mp=3 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Separate identity from China====
On 30 September 2007, the DPP approved a [[Resolution (law)|resolution]] asserting a separate identity from China and called for the enactment of a new constitution for a "normal nation". It struck an accommodating tone by advocating general use of "[[Taiwan]]" as the country's name without calling for abandonment of the name Republic of China.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-09-30-taiwan_N.htm|title=Taiwan party asserts separate identity from China - USATODAY.com|website=usatoday30.usatoday.com|access-date=5 August 2015|archive-date=16 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016030922/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-09-30-taiwan_N.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:蔡英文官方元首肖像照.png|thumb|right|250px|[[Tsai Ing-wen]], the second DPP [[President of the Republic of China|President]] (2016–2024) and the leader of the DPP (2008–2022). Tsai is the first female leader of the DPP.]]