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ROC presidency

1. Details about the office
• Top job
• Organization
• Palace of power
2. Presidents of the ROC 1912–1948
• Early Republic 1912–1916
• Warlord Period 1916-1928—Northern China
• Warlord Period 1916-1928—Southern China
• Nationalist Government 1928–1948
3. Presidents / Vice Presidents of the ROC since 1948
• List of ROC presidents and VPs since 1948
• First Ladies of the ROC
• Secretary-generals of the ROC presidential office
• Chiefs Aide-de-Camp to the President since 1948
• Milestones of the ROC presidency since 1947
• National Security Council
• Ⓧ New Southbound Policy Office
• Ⓧ National Unification Council (NUC)
• Ⓧ Government Reform Committee
• Academia Sinica
• Academia Historica
4. Biographical background of popularly elected ROC presidents (since 1996)
• Lee Teng-hui 李登輝
• Chen Shui-bian 陳水扁
• Ma Ying-jeou 馬英九
• Tsai Ing-wen 蔡英文
• Lai Ching-te 賴清德

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◆ Details about the office

• Top job
• Organization
• Palace of power

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Top job

• Powers
• Election and inauguration
• Succession
• Impeachment

The presidency is the highest and most powerful position in ROC politics. In Chinese, the president is called zongtong 總統 and the vice president fuzongtong 副總統, their office zongtongfu 總統府 (term applies both to the institution and its building in downtown Taipei).

✉ Presidential Office 總統府
No. 122 Chongqing South Road Sec. 1, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City 10048, Taiwan ROC [10048 台北市中正區重慶南路 1 段 122 號] ———————————— 🌏 Presidential Office – Web link
Older logo (before June 2017)

Powers

The president is not only head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces; he or she has the authority to appoint the head of the Executive Yuan (= premier), of the Judicial Yuan (as well as its grand justices [dafaguan 大法官]), of the Control Yuan, and of the Examination Yuan. Furthermore, the president represents the ROC in foreign relations.

Election and inauguration

Before March 1996, the president was elected by the National Assembly, since then the president has been elected directly by the citizens of the ROC. That change of the electoral process came along with a reduction of the president's term of office from six to four years, and he or she is now also barred from serving more than two consecutive terms. Following a presidential election, the winners (if not identical with the incumbent) are referred to as president-elect (zhun zongtong 準總統) and VP-elect (zhun fuzongtong 準副總統).

Since 1948, the inauguration date of the ROC president at the onset of each new term has been May 20, following the election in the first quarter of the same year. The inaugural speech of a new ROC president is usually regarded as a major political statement about the concepts and plans the incoming head of state wishes to implement during his/her term of office, and it always attracts close attention from domestic and international observers.

Succession

If the office of the ROC president becomes vacant, the vice president (VP) serves the remainder of the term until its expiration. If during that time the VP becomes incapacitated as well, Article 49 of the ROC Constitution (Zhonghua minguo xianfa 中華民國憲法) stipulates that the President of the Executive Yuan (xingzhengyuan yuanzhang 行政院院長), i. e. the ROC Premier, shall act for the ROC President.

Impeachment

According to the current laws and regulations, the ROC president and/or VP can be impeached when at least one half of the total members of the ROC Legislative Yuan initiate such a proposal which must be passed by no less than two-thirds of the total legislators (Article 4, Paragraph 7 of the Additional Articles). After that, the ROC Constitutional Court of the Judicial Yuan will hold a judgment on the matter. If impeachment is upheld in the adjudication by the Justices of the Constitutional Court, the impeached person shall be relieved of his/her duties.

TOP   HOME    [◆ Introduction ROC presidency]   [Top job]

Organization

The organizational chart on the official website of the ROC Presidential Office lists the following posts and departments:

▶ Secretary-General to the President (mishuzhang 秘書長),
▶ Deputy Secretary-General to the President (fu mishuzhang 副秘書長);
▶ First Bureau (diyiju 第一局),
▶ Second Bureau (dierju 第二局),
▶ Third Bureau (disanju 第三局);
▶ Department of Public Affairs (gonggong shiwushi 公共事務室),
▶ Department of Security Affairs (shiweishi 侍衛室),
▶ Department of Special Affairs (jiyaoshi 機要室);
▶ Department of Accounting and Statistics (zhujichu主計處),
▶ Government Ethics Department (zhengfengchu 政風處),
▶ Personnel Department (renshichu 人事處); and
▶ Legal Affairs Committee (fagui weiyuanhui 法規委員會).

Three more agencies under the ROC Presidential Office are worth noting.

▶ Economic Advisory Task Force (caijing zixun xiaozu 財經諮詢小組), first meeting was held on Sept. 23, 2008 with the sitting VP as convener (zhaojiren 召集人), apparently inactive since 2012;
▶ Human Rights Consultative Committee (zongtongfu renquan zixun weiyuanhui 總統府人權諮詢委員會, 🏁—zhaojiren 召集人), established on Dec. 10, 2010 and headed by the sitting VP as convener, final meeting on May 6, 2020; and
▶ National Pension Reform Committee (guojia nianjin gaige weiyuanhui 國家年金改革委員會), first meeting took place on June 23, 2016.

An Indigenous Historical Justice and Transitional Justice Committee (yuanzhu minzu lishi zhengyi yu zhuanxing zhengyi weiyuanhui 原住民族歷史正義與轉型正義委員會, abbrev. yuanzhuanhui 原轉會) was first announced by ROC President Tsai Ing-wen on Aug. 1, 2016 with the ROC president as its convener (zhaojiren 召集人). A preparatory meeting took place on Dec. 27, 2016, and the committee convened for its first meeting on March 20, 2017. Following a meeting presided by Tsai on May 10, 2024, the Presidential Office on July 31, 2024 announced the disbandment of the committee, its responsibilities were transferred to the Indigenous Peoples Basic Law Promotion Committee (yuanzhu minzu jibenfa tuidonghui 原住民族基本法推動會) under the Executive Yuan.

On June 19, 2024 President Lai Ching-te announced the establishment of three committees under the Presidential Office in order to develop national strategies, engage in dialogue with civil society, deepen cooperation with the international community, and take action for Taiwan’s future.
▶ National Climate Change Response Committee (guojia qihou bianqian duice weiyuanhui 國家氣候變遷對策委員會), convened for its first meeting on Aug. 8, 2024,
▶ National Whole-of-Society Resilience Committee (quan shehui fangwei renxing weiyuanhui 全社會防衛韌性委員會), and
▶ Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee (jiankang Taiwan tuidong weiyuanhui 健康台灣推動委員會).

According to the ROC Office of the President Organization Act (Zhonghua minguo zongtongfu zuzhifa 中華民國總統府組織法) which was promulgated on May 1, 1948 and entered into force on May 20 the same year, the following institutions are under the direct administrative supervision of the presidential office:

▶ Academia Sinica (zhongyang yanjiuyuan 中央研究院),
▶ Academia Historica (guoshiguan 國史館); and
▶ Management Commission of Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum (guofu lingyuan guanli weiyuanhui 國父陵園管理委員會)—exists on paper only but was never actually set up as provided by said organization act.

Spokesperson, advisors, security detail

The function of Spokesperson of the Presidential Office (zongtongfu fayanren 總統府發言人) has at times been a separate post in its own right since Cheyne J. Y. Chiu 邱進益 was appointed the first-ever presidential spokesman on April 24, 1990. According to information provided by the Presidential Office, the position is usually filled by by a senior official of the Presidential Office—such as the secretary-general, deputy secretary-general (fumishuzhang 副秘書長), or director of the Department of Public Affairs (zongtongfu gonggong shiwushi zhuren 總統府公共事務室主任)—and reassigned as necessary.

Additionally, the president also consults with senior advisors (zizheng 資政), national policy advisors (guoce guwen 國策顧問), and military strategy advisors (zhanlüe guwen 戰略顧問) appointed by him or her.

The presidential office chief of security (zongtongfu shiweizhang 總統府侍衛長) is responsible for handling the protection of the president and the VP.

TOP   HOME    [◆ Introduction ROC presidency]   [Organization]

Palace of power

The Presidential Office Building, located in downtown Taipei, was designed by Japanese architects Nagano Uheiji 長野 宇平治 (1867-1937) and Moriyama Matsunosuke 森山 松之助 (1869-1949) in a late-Renaissance style. After their blueprint was selected following the final stage of a design contest in 1910, construction began in June 1912 and was completed in March 1919 at a cost of 2.8 million Japanese yen. The maximum height of the tower in the center is 60 meters, and between its completion and 1932 the building was the tallest structure in Taiwan. During the period of Japanese colonial rule in Taiwan (1895-1945), the structure housed the Office of the Governor-general of Taiwan (Taiwan zongdufu 台灣總督府 / Taiwan Sōtokufu 台湾総督府 in Japanese).

The iconic complex with its ornate exterior featuring a creative blend of traditional European elements (Renaissance, Baroque and neo-Classical) is a major landmark in the capital and has become a symbol for Taiwan's government. The building sustained extensive damage after suffering a direct hit by bombs dropped during an air raid by the US Air Force on Taipei on May 31, 1945, rendering it inoperable; it was repaired only after the KMT-led ROC government took over Taiwan following the end of the war.

Please note that between 1947 and 2006 the presidential palace was also called "Chieh Shou Hall" (jieshouguan 介壽館) in Chinese, jieshou meaning "Long live Chiang Kai-shek" in English; that name was adopted to honour President Chiang's 60^th birthday. The sign bearing those three characters was replaced with a sign showing the three characters zongtongfu 總統府 (= Presidential Office) on March 25, 2006. The main road between the front side of the Presidential Office and Taipei's East Gate (dongmen 東門) had been renamed from Chieh-shou Road (jieshoulu 介壽路) to Ketagalan Boulevard (Kaidagelan dadao 凱達格蘭大道) on March 21, 1996.

Outside the capital

In addition to the Taipei headquarters, a Presidential Southern Office (zongtongfu nanbu bangongshi 總統府南部辦公室) was inaugurated on March 10, 2017 in Kaohsiung to balance the country's uneven north-south development. The official opening of another branch in Taichung (zongtongfu zhongbu bangongshi 總統府中部辦公室) to strengthen the role of central Taiwan was announced on March 18, 2017.

TOP   HOME    [◆ Introduction ROC presidency]   [Presidential office building]

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◆ Presidents of the ROC 1912–1948

• Early Republic 1912–1916
• Warlord Period 1916-1928—Northern China
• Warlord Period 1916-1928—Southern China
• Nationalist Government 1928–1948

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Early Republic 1912–1916

Sun Yat-sen, known to many Chinese mainly by his posthumous name Zhongshan 中山, is revered as "Father of the Nation" (guofu 國父) by the governments both of the ROC and the PRC. Source for Dr. Sun's portrait on the right: © Wikimedia Commons.

More details about the political development of the ROC between 1912 and 1916 can be found here.

TOP   HOME    [◆ ROC Presidents 1912-1948]   [1912–1916]

Warlord Period 1916-1928—Northern China

When Yuan Shikai died on June 6, 1916, the officials of the ROC government in Beijing failed to restore unity as the provinces which had declared independence prior to Yuan's demise continued to refuse recognizing the authority of the central government. For more than twelve years, China remained divided and dominated by local warlords (junfa 軍閥). Major players in northern China included the following:

• Anhui clique (wanxi junfa 皖系軍閥),
• Zhili clique (zhixi junfa 直系軍閥 or zhilixi junfa 直隸系軍閥),
• Fengtian clique (fengxi junfa 奉系軍閥),
• Shanxi clique (jinxi 晉系),
• Nationalist Army (guominjun 國民軍) aka Northwest Army (xibeijun 西北軍),
• Ma clique (Majiajun 馬家軍 or Majia junfa 馬家軍閥), and others.

During the chaotic 1916–1928 Warlord Period, the regime in Beijing was also referred to as Beiyang government (beiyang zhengfu 北洋政府). Control over Beijing was significant because the government based there was internationally recognized as the legitimate Chinese government. For example, at the Paris Peace Conference which took place between Jan. 18, 1919 and Jan. 21, 1920, the delegation representing China comprised top Beiyang government officials, including Wellington Koo 顧維鈞, Lou Tseng-tsiang 陸徵祥, Alfred Sao-ke Sze 施肇基, Tsao Ju-lin 曹汝霖, Thomas Wang 王正廷, and Wei Chen-zu 魏宸組. (At the conclusion of the conference, China's representatives refused to sign the Treaty of Versailles because many former German concessions in China were not returned but handed to Japan instead. A separate peace treaty with Germany—Zhong De xieyue 中德協約, in German: Deutsch-Chinesischer Vertrag zur Wiederherstellung des Friedenszustandes, English translation: Agreement Regarding the Restoration of the State of Peace between Germany and China—was signed on May 20, 1921 in Beijing by Beiyang government representative Yen Hui-ch'ing 顏惠慶 and German consul general Herbert von Borch.) The Beiyang government was terminated with the conclusion of the Northern Expedition (beifa zhanzheng 北伐戰爭) in July 1928.

TOP   HOME    [◆ ROC Presidents 1912-1948]   [Warlords (northern China)]

Warlord Period 1916-1928—Southern China

During the Warlord Period, major players in southern China included the KMT (led by Sun Yat-sen and Chiang Kai-shek), warlords in the provinces of Guangdong, Guizhou, and Hunan as well as the following:

• Yunnan clique (dianxi 滇系),
• Old Guangxi clique (jiu guixi 舊桂系),
• New Guangxi clique (xin guixi 新桂系), and
• Sichuan clique (chuanjun 川軍).

After Yuan Shikai assumed the ROC presidency in 1912, his rule soon became increasingly repressive, and Sun Yat-sen went into exile in August 1913. Following Yuan's death in 1916, Sun returned to China and moved to Canton (today's Guangzhou 廣州) in July 1917. There he headed a Constitutional Protection Junta (hufa jun zhengfu 護法軍政府) until April 1921 when he set up the Government of the ROC in Canton (Guangzhou Zhonghua minguo zhengfu 廣州中華民國政府), using the title "extraordinary president" (feichang dazongtong 非常大總統). Sun's leadership continued under the Army and Navy Marshal stronghold of the Republic of China (Zhonghua minguo luhaijun dayuanshuai dabenying 中華民國陸海軍大元帥大本營) which was established in February 1923, using the title "Army and Navy Marshal" (luhaijun dayuanshuai 陸海軍大元帥). Following Sun's death on March 12, 1925, the ROC Nationalist government (Zhonghua minguo guomin zhengfu 中華民國國民政府) was set up, first based in Canton. In the course of the Northern Expedition the capital was moved to Wuhan in February 1927 and later that year to Nanjing.

TOP   HOME    [◆ ROC Presidents 1912-1948]   [Warlords (southern China)]

Nationalist Government 1928–1948

Please note that between 1925 and 1948 the title "President" (da zongtong 大總統) was replaced with "Chairman of the National Government" (guomin zhengfu zhuxi 國民政府主席).

TOP   HOME    [◆ ROC Presidents 1912-1948]   [1928–1948]

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◆ Presidents / Vice Presidents of the ROC since 1948

• List of ROC presidents and VPs since 1948
• First Ladies of the ROC
• Secretary-generals of the ROC presidential office
• Chiefs Aide-de-Camp to the President since 1948
• Milestones of the ROC presidency since 1947
• National Security Council
• Ⓧ New Southbound Policy Office
• Ⓧ National Unification Council (NUC)
• Ⓧ Government Reform Committee
• Academia Sinica
• Academia Historica

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List of ROC presidents and VPs since 1948

For biographical details of the five ROC presidents since 1996 who were popularly elected click here.

TOP   HOME    [◆ ROC Presidents since 1948]    [All presidents/VPs]

First Ladies of the ROC

Like in most countries, the "First Lady" (diyi furen 第一夫人) of the ROC is not a formal office, but being the spouse of the head of state involves certain ceremonial duties and social obligations. The name of Chiang Ching-kuo's wife was spelled "Фаіна Іпацьеўна Вахрава" (Fayina Ipaćjeŭna Vachrava) in Belarusian. Tsai Ing-wen, the first female president in ROC history, is unmarried.

TOP   HOME    [◆ ROC Presidents since 1948]    [First ladies]

Secretary-generals of the ROC presidential office

TOP   HOME    [◆ ROC Presidents since 1948]    [PO secretary-generals]

Chiefs Aide-de-Camp to the President since 1948

The position of Chief Aide-de-Camp to the President (zongtongfu shiweizhang 總統府侍衛長) is also called presidential office chief of security. Please note that according to the ROC Yearbook 2010, Wu Tung-ming 吳東明 was born in 1937 in Jiangxi.

TOP   HOME    [◆ ROC Presidents since 1948]    [Chiefs Aide-de-Camp]

Milestones of the ROC presidency since 1947

TOP   HOME    [◆ ROC Presidents since 1948]    [Milestones presidency]

National Security Council

The National Security Council (guojia anquan huiyi 國家安全會議, abbrev. guoanhui 國安會) under the ROC Presidential Office was established on Feb. 20, 1951. Its chairman (zhuxi 主席) is nominally the sitting ROC president, but the person in charge of its daily business is its secretary-general (mishuzhang 秘書長). In English, it is also sometimes referred to as the "National Security Conference". Before February 1967 it was called the "Defense Council" (guofang huiyi 國防會議).

National Security Council secretary-generals

The National Security Council should not be confused with the National Security Bureau (NSB). Although the NSB is subordinate to the National Security Council, it can also directly report to the ROC President and bypass the National Security Council.

TOP   HOME    [◆ ROC Presidents since 1948]    [National Security Council]

Ⓧ New Southbound Policy Office

The establishment of the New Southbound Policy Office (zongtongfu xin nanxiang zhengce bangongshi 總統府新南向政策辦公室, 🏁—zhuren 主任) was announced on May 18, 2016 by the DPP, and the agency began operations on June 15, 2016. Its main focus was the deepening of Taiwan's relations with the 18 target countries of the New Southbound Policy (xin nanxiang zhengce 新南向政策, abbrev. NSP). On Dec. 13, 2017 ROC Presidential Office Spokesman Alex Huang 黃重諺 announced that the New Southbound Policy Office was slated to be shut down in 2018, and it closed on Jan. 1, 2018.

Directors of the New Southbound Policy Office

After the closure of the New Southbound Policy Office

On Jan. 28, 2018—less than a month after the New Southbound Policy Office ceased operations—ROC Premier Lai Ching-te 賴清德 approved the formation of a 10-person New Southbound Policy Task Force (xin nanxiang gongzuo xiaozu 新南向工作小組), headed by Minister without Portfolio John C. C. Deng 鄧振中. The task force reports to the Office of Trade Negotiations (OTN) under the Executive Yuan.

On Jan. 5, 2022 ROC President Tsai Ing-wen appointed Lin Chia-lung 林佳龍 ambassador-at-large (wurensuo dashi 無任所大使) for digital NSP initiatives. After Lin was appointed MOFA minister under the newly inaugurated Lai Ching-te administration, Lin on May 30, 2024 proposed a "New Southbound Fund" (xin nanxiang jijin 新南向基金) to strengthen cooperation and exchanges with friendly countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

Remarks about the New Southbound Policy

The New Southbound Policy (NSP) was first suggested by Tsai Ing-wen on Sept. 22, 2015 when she was DPP chairwoman, and she mentioned the term in her 2016 inaugural address. It seeks to elevate the scope and diversity of Taiwan's export economy while minimizing overreliance on any single market, and it encompasses inbound investment and tourism as well as business, educational and cultural exchanges. The NSP targets 18 countries in Southeast Asia, especially ASEAN members (in particular Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam), in South Asia (namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka), Australia and New Zealand. The Guidelines for the New Southbound Policy (xin nanxiang zhengce wangling 新南向政策網領) were approved on Aug. 16, 2016. More information about the NSP can be found on the New Southbound Policy Portal set up by the ROC MOFA.

Please note that two more relevant texts can be found on the page "Other texts and documents" of this website:
• New Southbound Policy Promotion Plan (xin nanxiang zhengce tuidong jihua 新南向政策推動計畫), and
• New Southbound Policy Working Plan (xin nanxiang zhengce gongzuo jihua 新南向政策工作計畫).

TOP   HOME    [◆ ROC Presidents since 1948]    [NSP office]

Ⓧ National Unification Council (NUC)

The NUC (guojia tongyi weiyuanhui 國家統一委員會, abbrev. guotonghui 國統會) was established on Oct. 1, 1990 as a consultative organ attached to the ROC Presidential Office, with the mission to make recommendations to the president based on its research and consultations on overall unification policy. It was composed of leaders in various fields, from both the government and private sectors, and divided into small committees. The NUC served several major functions—to further the goal of national unification, to assist the government in effectively planning the policy framework for achieving unification, and to integrate opinion at all levels of society and in all political parties concerning the issue of national unification. At its third meeting on Feb. 23, 1991, the NUC adopted the "Guidelines for National Unification" (guojia tongyi wangling 國家統一綱領), at the time the highest directives governing ROC mainland policy.

Less than a year after the founding of the NUC, the Planning Commission for the Recovery of the Mainland (guangfu dalu sheji yanjiu weiyuanhui 光復大陸設計研究委員會, abbrev. PCRM) was disbanded on June 30, 1991, a move that represented President Lee Teng-hui's paradigm shift, i. e. renouncing the use of force to achieve unification.

The NUC was suspended when President Lee's successor Chen Shui-bian announced on Feb. 27, 2006 that it would 'cease to function' (zhongzhi yunzuo 終止運作) and the National Unification Guidelines would 'cease to apply' (zhongzhi shiyong 終止適用).

TOP   HOME    [◆ ROC Presidents since 1948]    [NUC]

Ⓧ Government Reform Committee

After the transfer of power from the KMT to the DPP in 2000, the Economic Development Advisory Conference (jingji fazhan zixun weiyuan huiyi 經濟發展諮詢委員會議) which took place Aug. 24–26, 2001 proposed the establishment of a government reform commission to promote and consolidate a consensus on government reform, and the Government Reform Committee (zhengfu gaizao weiyuanhui 政府改造委員會, 🏁—zhuren weiyuan 主任委員) was established on Oct. 25, 2001 as a consultative body to the president and chaired by him as well.

The members of the committee were selected from various government departments, academia, and the private sector to work toward a consensus on government reform. It subsequently recommended the following priorities—improvement of government efficiency; creation of an energetic and globally competitive government; and reorganization of the Executive Yuan. As a result, the Council for Organizational Reform (zuzhi gaizao tuidong weiyuanhui 組織改造推動委員會) under the Executive Yuan was launched on May 27, 2002 to coordinate administrative departments in attaining reform goals. Legislation drafted or amended in that context included the Basic Code Governing Central Administrative Agencies Organizations and the Organizational Act of the Executive Yuan.

After government executive power was transferred from the DPP back to the KMT in May 2008, the Government Reform Committee apparently became inactive. Nevertheless, the Ma Ying-jeou administration did devise its own plans for government reform and began restructuring the Executive Yuan on Jan. 1, 2012.

TOP   HOME    [◆ ROC Presidents since 1948]    [Government Reform Committee]

Academia Sinica

✉ Academia Sinica 中央研究院
No. 128 Academia Road Sec. 2, Nangang District, Taipei City 11529, Taiwan ROC [11529 台北市南港區研究院路 2 段 128 號] ———————————— 🌏 Academia Sinica – Web link

The Academia Sinica (zhongyang yanjiuyuan 中央研究院, abbrev. zhongyanyuan 中研院, 🏁—yuanzhang 院長) was established on June 9, 1928 and is regarded today as Taiwan's top research institution. Membership as an Academician (yuanshi 院士) is usually awarded as an honorary lifetime privilege in re­cognition of the achievements of renowned scientists or researchers. A Convocation of Academicians (zhongyanyuan yuanshi huiyi 中研院院士會議) is staged every two years and focuses on electing new academicians (research fellows).

Presidents of Academia Sinica

Besides directly subordinate organizations like the Center for Sustainability Science (yongxu kexue zhongxin 永續科學中心) and the Academia Sinica Digital Center (zhongyang yanjiuyuan shuwei wenhua zhongxin 中央研究院數位文化中心), Academia Sinica currently consists of 24 institutes and 7 research centers in three divisions.

Division of Mathematics and Physical Sciences (shuli kexuezu 數理科學組):

▶ Institute of Mathematics (shuxue yanjiusuo 數學研究所)
▶ Institute of Physics (wuli yanjiusuo 物理研究所)
▶ Institute of Chemistry (huaxue yanjiusuo 化學研究所)
▶ Institute of Earth Sciences (diqiu kexue yanjiusuo 地球科學研究所)
▶ Institute of Information Science (zixun kexue yanjiusuo 資訊科學研究所)
▶ Institute of Statistical Science (tongji kexue yanjiusuo 統計科學研究所)
▶ Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences (yuanzi yu fenzi kexue yanjiusuo 原子與分子科學研究所)
▶ Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (tianwen ji tianwen wuli yanjiusuo 天文及天文物理研究所)
▶ Research Center for Applied Sciences (yingyong kexue yanjiu zhongxin 應用科學研究中心)
▶ Research Center for Environmental Changes (huanjing bianqian yanjiu zhongxin 環境變遷研究中心, abbrev. RCEC)
▶ Research Center for Information Technology Innovation (zixun keji chuangxin yan­jiu zhongxin 資訊科技創新研究中心)

Please note that the establishment of an Air Quality Research Center (kongqi pinzhi zhuanti zhongxin 空氣品質專題中心) and an Anthropogenic Climate Change Center (renwei qihou bianqian zhuanti zhongxin 人為氣候變遷專題中心) under the RCEC were announced on Jan. 21, 2021.

Division of Life Sciences (shengming kexuezu 生命科學組):

▶ Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology (zhiwu ji wei shengwuxue yanjiusuo 植物暨微生物學研究所)
▶ Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology (xipao yu geti shengwuxue yanjiusuo 細胞與個體生物學研究所)
▶ Institute of Biological Chemistry (shengwu huaxue yanjiusuo 生物化學研究所)
▶ Institute of Molecular Biology (fenzi shengwu yanjiusuo 分子生物研究所)
▶ Institute of Biomedical Sciences (shengwu yixue kexue yanjiusuo 生物醫學科學研究所)
▶ Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center (nongye shengwu keji yanjiu zhongxin 農業生物科技研究中心)
▶ Genomics Research Center (jiyinti yanjiu zhongxin 基因體研究中心)
▶ Biodiversity Research Center (shengwu duoyangxing yanjiu zhongxin 生物多樣性研究中心)

Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences (renwen shehui kexuezu 人文社會科學組):

▶ Institute of History and Philology (lishi yuyan yanjiusuo 歷史語言研究所)
▶ Institute of Ethnology (minzuxue yanjiusuo 民族學研究所)
▶ Institute of Modern History (jindaishi yanjiusuo 近代史研究所)
▶ Institute of Economics (jingji yanjiusuo 經濟研究所)
▶ Institute of European and American Studies (Ou Mei yanjiusuo 歐美研究所)
▶ Institute of Chinese Literature and Philosophy (Zhongguo wenzhe yanjiusuo 中國文哲研究所)
▶ Institute of Taiwan History (Taiwanshi yanjiusuo 台灣史研究所)
▶ Institute of Sociology (shehuixue yanjiusuo 社會學研究所)
▶ Institute of Linguistics (yuyanxue yanjiusuo 語言學研究所)
▶ Institute of Political Science (zhengzhixue yanjiusuo 政治學研究所)
▶ Institutum Iurisprudentiae (falüxue yanjiusuo 法律學研究所)
▶ Research Center for Humanities and Social Sciences (renwen shehui kexue yanjiu zhongxin 人文社會科學研究中心)

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Nobel Prize laureates

Among the members of Academia Sinica are several Nobel Prize laureates. The following scientists (listed in alphabetical order with Nobel Prize category, year and names of co-laureates) are Nobel Prize laureates associated with the ROC/Taiwan, although some of them were born outside the ROC and/or have meanwhile given up ROC citizenship.

• Steven Chu 朱棣文 (b. 1948, USA) [academician since 1994]; Physics 1997—along Claude Cohen-Tannoudji and William D. Phillips;
• Sir Charles K. Kao 高錕 (1933-2018, Shanghai) [academician since 1992]; Physics 2009—along Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith;
• Lee Tsung-dao 李政道 (1926-2024, Shanghai) [academician since 1958]; Physics 1957—along Yang Chen-ning;
• Lee Yuan-tseh 李遠哲 (b. 1936, Taiwan) [academician since 1982]; Chemistry 1986—along Dudley R. Herschbach and John C. Polanyi;
• Samuel C. C. Ting 丁肇中 (b. 1936, USA) [academician since 1976]; Physics 1976—along Burton Richter;
• Roger Y. Tsien 錢永健 (1952-2016, USA) [academician since 2010]; Chemistry 2008—along Osamu Shimomura and Martin Chalfie;
• Daniel C. Tsui 崔琦 (b. 1939, Henan) [academician since 1992]; Physics 1998—along Robert B. Laughlin and Horst L. Störmer; and
• Yang Chen-ning 楊振寧 (b. 1922, Anhui) [academician since 1958]; Physics 1957—along Lee Tsung-dao.

Please note that Roger Y. Tsien never had ROC nationality and is listed by the Academia Sinica as "honorary academician" (rongyu yuanshi 榮譽院士), while Samuel C. C. Ting is listed as "foreign academician" (waiji yuanshi 外籍院士).

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Academia Historica

✉ Academia Historica 國史館
No. 2 Changsha Street Sec. 1, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City 10048, Taiwan ROC [10048 台北市中正區長沙街 1 段 2 號] ———————————— 🌏 Academia Historica – Web link
Alternative logo

The Academia Historica (guoshiguan 國史館, 🏁—guanzhang 館長) was established in January 1947.

Presidents of Academia Historica

A subordinate institution is Taiwan Historica (guoshiguan Taiwan wenxianguan 國史館台灣文獻館, 🏁—guanzhang 館長), established on Jan. 1, 2002 based on the Provincial Documents Committee of Taiwan (Taiwansheng wenxian weiyuanhui 台灣省文獻委員會) which had been founded on June 1, 1948 as General Historica of Taiwan Province (Taiwansheng tongzhiguan 台灣省通志館) and renamed in July 1949.

✉ Taiwan Historica 國史館台灣文獻館
No. 254 Guangming 1st Road, Jhongsing Village, Nantou City, Nantou County 54043, Taiwan ROC [54043 南投縣南投市中興新村光明一路 254 號] ———————————— 🌏 Taiwan Historica – Web link

Taiwan Historica has been headed by the following directors:

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◆ Biographical background of popularly elected ROC presidents (since 1996)

The tenure covers the time span between the day when the president first took office until his/her last full day in office.

When Lee Teng-hui first assumed the presidency in 1988, it was not as a result of a direct popular election but because his predecessor Chiang Ching-kuo (CCK) had passed away and Lee as then-VP was next in line. After Lee served out CCK's term, he was elected head of state for the first term in his own right by the First National Assembly on March 21, 1990. The first direct ROC presidential election took place on March 23, 1996 and was won by Lee.

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Note: The copyright for the five official portraits, provided by the ROC Presidential Office in Taipei, is as follows:

  • Lee Teng-hui: public domain;
  • Chen Shui-bian: public domain;
  • Ma Ying-jeou: Office of the President, ROC;
  • Tsai Ing-wen: Office of the President, ROC (Taiwan); and
  • Lai Ching-te: Office of the President, ROC (Taiwan).

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Lee Teng-hui 李登輝

• Biographical data and family
• Education
• Career
• Political affiliations
• Administrations under President Lee
• Foreign trips during tenure as ROC president

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Biographical data and family

TOP   HOME    [◆ Presidential biographies]    [Lee Teng-hui]

Education

TOP   HOME    [◆ Presidential biographies]    [Lee Teng-hui]

Career

For President Lee's 1996 inaugural address click here.

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Political affiliations

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Administrations under President Lee

Please note that the period between May 20, 1996 and Sept. 1, 1997 was the only time after Taiwan's democratization that the offices of ROC VP and ROC Premier were concurrently held by the same person.

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Foreign trips during tenure as ROC president

A list of stopovers in the US since 1994 made by ROC presidents (including Lee) traveling while in office can be found here, and for a list of the ROC's current diplomatic allies please click here.

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Chen Shui-bian 陳水扁

• Biographical data and family
• Education
• Career
• Political affiliations
• Administrations under President Chen
• Foreign trips during tenure as ROC president
• Timeline of Chen’s post-presidency imprisonment

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Biographical data and family

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Education

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Career

Chen Shui-bian served two consecutive terms as head of state after winning the ROC presidential elections in 2000 and 2004; for his 2000 inaugural address click here, for his 2004 inaugural address click here.

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Political affiliations

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Administrations under President Chen

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Foreign trips during tenure as ROC president

A list of stopovers in the US since 1994 made by ROC presidents (including Chen) traveling while in office can be found here, and for a list of the ROC's current diplomatic allies please click here.

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Timeline of Chen's post-presidency imprisonment

Note: Chen Shui-bian has always denied the charges brought up against him and rejected them as 'politically motivated'.

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Ma Ying-jeou 馬英九

• Biographical data and family
• Education
• Career
• Political affiliation
• Administrations under President Ma
• Foreign trips during tenure as ROC president

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Biographical data and family

TOP   HOME    [◆ Presidential biographies]    [Ma Ying-jeou]

Education

TOP   HOME    [◆ Presidential biographies]    [Ma Ying-jeou]

Career

Ma Ying-jeou served two consecutive terms as head of state after winning the ROC presidential elections in 2008 and 2012; for his 2008 inaugural address click here, for his 2012 inaugural address click here.

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Political affiliation

TOP   HOME    [◆ Presidential biographies]    [Ma Ying-jeou]

Administrations under President Ma

TOP   HOME    [◆ Presidential biographies]    [Ma Ying-jeou]

Foreign trips during tenure as ROC president

A list of stopovers in the US since 1994 made by ROC presidents (including Ma) traveling while in office can be found here, and for a list of the ROC's current diplomatic allies please click here.

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Tsai Ing-wen 蔡英文

• Biographical data and family
• Education
• Career
• Political affiliation
• Administrations under President Tsai
• Foreign trips during tenure as ROC president

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Biographical data and family

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Education

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Career

Tsai Ing-wen served two consecutive terms as head of state after winning the ROC presidential elections in 2016 and 2020; for her 2016 inaugural address click here, for her 2020 inaugural address click here.

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Political affiliation

TOP   HOME    [◆ Presidential biographies]    [Tsai Ing-wen]

Administrations under President Tsai

TOP   HOME    [◆ Presidential biographies]    [Tsai Ing-wen]

Foreign trips during tenure as ROC president

A list of stopovers in the US since 1994 made by ROC presidents (including Tsai) traveling while in office can be found here, and for a list of the ROC's current diplomatic allies please click here.

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Lai Ching-te 賴清德

• Biographical data and family
• Education
• Career
• Political affiliation
• Administrations under President Lai
• Foreign trips during tenure as ROC president

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Biographical data and family

TOP   HOME    [◆ Presidential biographies]    [Lai Ching-te]

Education

TOP   HOME    [◆ Presidential biographies]    [Lai Ching-te]

Career

Lai Ching-te took office after having won the ROC presidential election in 2024; for his 2024 inaugural address click here.

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Political affiliation

TOP   HOME    [◆ Presidential biographies]    [Lai Ching-te]

Administrations under President Lai

TOP   HOME    [◆ Presidential biographies]    [Lai Ching-te]

Foreign trips during tenure as ROC president

A list of stopovers in the US since 1994 made by ROC presidents (including Lai) traveling while in office can be found here, and for a list of the ROC's current diplomatic allies please click here.

TOP   HOME    [◆ Presidential biographies]    [Lai Ching-te]

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