• Site Map
• Symbols
• Abbreviations
• Tools
• Maps
• Name Index

• Introduction Taiwan / ROC
• ROC Presidency
• Executive Yuan (Cabinet)
• Ministries and cabinet agencies
• Other central government agencies
• Foreign relations of the ROC
• Legislative Yuan (Parliament)
• Judicial Yuan
• Control Yuan
• Examination Yuan
• Local administration
• Political parties
• Democratic elections
• Non-governmental sector
• Abolished agencies
• Secessionist states before 1945

• ROC Constitution
• Other texts and documents
• News headlines
• PDF download
• Disclaimer
• About this website
• Home

Political parties

1. Overview
• Other political parties in the ROC
• Political party identification in Taiwan since 1992
2. The KMT and affiliates
• Facts about the KMT
• Top leaders of the KMT
• KMT Secretary-generals
• KMT Youth League
• Party congresses ("national congress") of the KMT
• Party assets under scrutiny
• China Youth National Salvation Corps (CYC)
3. The DPP and affiliates
• Facts about the DPP
• DPP Chairpersons
• DPP Secretary-generals
• DPP factions
• Party congresses / national conventions of the DPP
• World United Formosans for Independence (WUFI)
• Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA)
• Taiwan Association of University Professors (TAUP)
• Taiwan Society
• The World Taiwanese Congress (WTC) and its members
• Other active organizations in the pan-green camp
4. Other major parties in the ROC and their leaders
• New Party (NP)
• People First Party (PFP)
• Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU)
• Non-Partisan Solidarity Union (NPSU)
• New Power Party (NPP)
• Taiwan People's Party (TPP)

===== ===== ===== ===== =====

◆ Overview

• Other political parties in the ROC
• Political party identification in Taiwan since 1992

++++++++++   TOP   HOME    [next chapter]   ++++++++++

There are more than 300 political parties in today's Taiwan, but currently only eight of them play more significant roles.

• KMT—Kuomintang or Chinese Nationalist Party (Zhongguo guomindang 中國國民黨/guomindang 國民黨), was established on Nov. 24, 1894 under the name "Revive China Society" (xing Zhong hui 興中會) and renamed/reorganized in 1905, 1912 and 1919
• DPP—Democratic Progressive Party (minzhu jinbudang 民主進步黨/minjindang 民進黨), est. Sept. 28, 1986 by members of the "dangwai" opposition movement (dangwai 黨外 = outside the party); noteworthy forerunner: Campaign Assistance Committee (xuanju houyuanhui 選舉後援會)
• NP—New Party (xindang 新黨), est. Aug. 10, 1993 by members of the "New KMT Alliance" (xin guomindang lianxian 新國民黨連線)
• PFP—People First Party (qinmindang 親民黨), est. March 31, 2000 by James Soong 宋楚瑜 and supporters
• TSU—Taiwan Solidarity Union (Taiwan tuanjie lianmeng 台灣團結聯盟, abbrev. Tailian 台聯), est. Aug. 12, 2001 by supporters of former ROC President Lee Teng-hui 李登輝
• NPSU—Non-Partisan Solidarity Union (wudang tuanjie lianmeng 無黨團結聯盟, abbrev. wumeng 無盟), est. June 16, 2004
• NPP—New Power Party (shidai liliang 時代力量, abbrev. shili 時力), est. Jan. 25, 2015
• TPP—Taiwan People's Party (Taiwan minzhongdang 台灣民眾黨), est. Aug. 6, 2019

The following table shows the representation of the eight major political parties (and others) in the ROC Legislative Yuan (LY) since 1993.

While the KMT, the DPP and the TPP are currently represented in the Eleventh Legislative Yuan, the following parties are not (in brackets the last time the party had members in the Legislative Yuan)—NP (Sixth LY), PFP (Ninth LY), NPSU (Ninth LY), TSU (Eighth LY), and NPP (Tenth LY).

TOP   HOME    [◆ Overview]

Two major political camps

Since the presidential elections in 2000, Taiwan's political landscape has been divided in two camps—the "blue camp" (lanying 藍營) favouring Taiwan's eventual unification with China, consisting of the KMT, NP and PFP, and the "green camp" (lüying 綠營) advocating Taiwan independence, composed of the DPP, TSU and NPP. Blue is the colour of the KMT party flag, and green is the colour of the DPP party flag.

The NPSU and the TPP do not belong to either of the two camps, but prior to the 2024 ROC presidential election the term "lanbaihe" (藍白合, literally "blue white combine") was frequently used by Taiwanese media speculating about the possibility of an alliance for a joint KMT-TPP ticket, with white standing for the TPP (despite the turquoise background colour of the TPP party emblem).

TOP   HOME    [◆ Overview]

Other political parties in the ROC

Besides the eight major political parties listed above, parties that participated in elections for the ROC's Legislative Yuan or National Assembly as well as parties that at least once fielded candidates in elections for ROC president / provincial governor / special municipality mayor are shown below.

• Young China Party (Zhongguo qingniandang 中國青年黨/qingniandang 青年黨), est. Dec. 2, 1923; sometimes also called "Chinese Youth Party" or "China Youth Party" in English
• China Middle and Youth Party (Zhongguo zhongqingdang 中國中青黨), est. Dec. 2, 1923 and now apparently defunct
• China Democratic Socialist Party (Zhongguo minzhu shehuidang 中國民主社會黨, abbrev. minshedang 民社黨), est. April 16, 1932, according to other sources on Aug. 15, 1946
• Workers' Party (gongdang 工黨), est. Nov. 1, 1987
• Chinese People's Party (Zhongguo minzhongdang 中國民眾黨), est. Nov. 21, 1987
• Chinese Republican Party (Zhonghua gonghedang 中華共和黨), est. March 9, 1988
• China Great Harmony Democratic Party (Zhongguo datong minzhudang 中國大同民主黨), est. Oct. 10, 1988
• China Old Veterans Unification Party (Zhongguo laobing tongyidang 中國老兵統一黨), est. Nov. 12, 1988
• Democratic Freedom Party (minzhu ziyoudang 民主自由黨), est. Jan. 1, 1989
• Peasant Party (nongmindang 農民黨), est. Feb. 3, 1989; sometimes also called "Farmers' Party" in English
• China Justice Party (Zhongguo zhongyidang 中國忠義黨), est. March 26, 1989
• Labor Party (laodongdang 勞動黨), est. March 29, 1989
• China Great Harmony Democratic Party (Zhongguo minzhu datongdang 中國民主大同黨) aka Great Harmony Party (datongdang 大同黨), est. May 20, 1989
• China Solidarity Party (Zhongguo tuanjiedang 中國團結黨), est. May 21, 1989
• China Renaissance Party (Zhongguo fuxingdang 中國復興黨), est. May 30, 1989
• China Democratic Constitutional Party (Zhongguo minzhu xianzhengdang 中國民主憲政黨), est. July 15, 1989
• Chinese Taiwan Aborigines Party (Zhongguo Taiwan yuanzhumindang 中國台灣原住民黨), est. March 18, 1990
• National Revival Party (zhongxingdang 中興黨), est. April 5, 1990
• Truth Party (zhenlidang 真理黨), est. Sept. 18, 1990
• China Social Democratic Party (Zhonghua shehui minzhudang 中華社會民主黨, abbrev. shemindang 社民黨) aka Chinese Social Democratic Party, est. March 1, 1991; merged with NP on Dec. 28, 1994
• China National Welfare Party (Zhongguo quanmin fulidang 中國全民福利黨) aka China All People Welfare Party, est. July 28, 1991
• China People's Action Party (Zhongguo renmin xingdongdang 中國人民行動黨), est. Sept. 28, 1991
• Nationwide Democratic Nonpartisan Union (quanguo minzhu feizhengdang lianmeng 全國民主非政黨聯盟, abbrev. feidangmeng 非黨盟), est. Oct. 16, 1991
• Civil Party (gongmindang 公民黨), est. March 7, 1993
• Advance Party (xianjindang 先進黨), est. Jan. 1, 1996
• Green Party Taiwan (lüdang 綠黨/Taiwan lüdang 台灣綠黨), est. Jan. 25, 1996 under the Chinese name lüse bentu qingxindang 綠色本土清新黨; formed an alliance with the Social Democratic Party on Aug. 17, 2015
• National Democratic Party (guojia minzhudang 國家民主黨), est. April 4, 1996
• TAIP—Taiwan Independence Party (jianguodang 建國黨), est. Oct. 6, 1996
• Democratic Union of Taiwan (minzhu lianmeng 民主聯盟), est. June 24, 1998
• New Nation Alliance (xinguojia lianxian 新國家連線) aka New Nation Association or New Nation Connection, est. Sept. 18, 1998
• Greater China Unification Front (da Zhonghua tongyi zhenxian 大中華統一陣線), est. July 7, 2000
• Taiwan Intelligence Action Volunteers Party (Taiwan huixing zhigongdang 臺灣慧行志工黨) aka Wisdom Action Party (huixingdang 慧行黨), est. Dec. 12, 2000
• Taiwan Number One Party (Taiwan wudang 台灣吾黨), est. Sept. 21, 2001
• Taiwan Labor Party (Taiwan gongdang 台灣工黨), est. April 27, 2003
• National Loyalty Party (quanmin zhongyidang 全民忠義黨), also known under the alternative Chinese name hongyun zhongyidang 洪運忠義黨, est. July 27, 2003
• Taiwan World Peace Party (shijie hepingdang 世界和平黨), est. March 13, 2004
• Civil Service Alliance (gongjiao lianmeng 工教聯盟), est. March 21, 2004
• DAA—Democratic Action Alliance (minzhu xingdong lianmeng 民主行動聯盟, abbrev. minmeng 民盟), est. May 4, 2004
• TDA—Taiwan Defense Alliance (baohu Taiwan dalianmeng 保護台灣大聯盟, abbrev. hu Tai lianmeng 護台聯盟), est. Aug. 1, 2004
• Unionist Party (Zhonghua tongyi cujindang 中華統一促進黨, abbrev. tongcudang 統促黨) aka China Unification Promotion Party/CUPP, est. Sept. 9, 2005
• Hakka Party (kejiadang 客家黨), est. Oct. 14, 2006
• Taiwan Farmers' Party (Taiwan nongmindang 台灣農民黨), est. June 15, 2007
• Third Society Party (disan shehuidang 第三社會黨), est. July 15, 2007
• Dadao Compassion Jishih Party (dadao cibei jishidang 大道慈悲濟世黨), est. Sept. 22, 2007
• Home Party (hongdang 紅黨), est. Oct. 14, 2007; was renamed "Taiwan National Congress" (Taiwan guomin huiyi 台灣國民會議) in 2011, Chinese name was then changed to Taiwan renquan lianmeng 台灣人權聯盟 on May 21, 2015
• Taiwan Constitution Association (zhixian lianmeng 制憲聯盟), est. Nov. 8, 2007
• Constitutional Conventions of Taiwan (daai xiangai lianmeng 大愛憲改聯盟), est. Nov. 8, 2007 under the Chinese name xianzheng gongtinghui 憲政公聽會 and reorganized in 2015
• People Party (renmin zuidadang 人民最大黨), est. Sept. 26, 2009; aka "People Union Party"
• Taiwan Ideology Party (Taiwan zhuyidang 台灣主義黨) aka Taiwanism Party, est. March 3, 2010
• Taiwan Global Commercial Party (Zhonghua Tai shang aiguodang 中華台商愛國黨), est. April 24, 2011
• Zheng Party (zhengdang 正黨), est. June 15, 2011
• NHSA—National Health Service Alliance (jianbao mianfei lianxian 健保免費連線), est. July 10, 2011
• R.O.C. The Basic Laws of Taiwan Corporation (Zhonghua minguo Taiwan jibenfa lianxian 中華民國臺灣基本法連線), est. Sept. 14, 2011, renamed "Institutional Island of Saving the World" (zhidu jiushidao 制度救世島) on Oct. 5, 2023
• People's Democratic Front (renmin minzhu zhenxian 人民民主陣線) aka "People Are The Boss", est. Oct. 2, 2011
• Third Class Citizen Justice Human Rights Self-Help Party (sandeng guomin gongyi renquan zijiudang 三等國民公義人權自救黨), est. Oct. 22, 2011
• Taiwan First Nations Party (Taiwan diyi minzudang 台灣第一民族黨), est. Dec. 12, 2012
• China Production Party (Zhongguo shengchandang 中國生產黨), est. Jan. 11, 2014
• MCFAP—Military, Civil, and Faculty Alliance Party (jungongjiao lianmengdang 軍公教聯盟黨), est. May 20, 2014
• Motorists' Party of ROC (Zhonghua minguo jichedang 中華民國機車黨), est. July 6, 2014
• Trees Party (shudang 樹黨), est. Aug. 10, 2014
• PPUP—Peace Pigeon Union Party (hepingge lianmengdang 和平鴿聯盟黨), est. Jan 7, 2015
• MKT—Minkuotang/Republican Party (minguodang 民國黨), est. March 18, 2015; merged into the Congress Party Alliance and dissolved on Jan. 25, 2019
• Social Democratic Party (shehui minzhudang 社會民主黨, abbrev. shemindang 社民黨), est. March 29, 2015; formed an alliance with the Green Party Taiwan on Aug. 17, 2015 which on July 19, 2018 was joined by the Taiwan Radical Wings, constituting a new coalition named Social Welfare State Front (shehui fuli guojia lianxian 社會福利國家連線)
• Free Taiwan Party (ziyou Taiwan dang 自由台灣黨), est. May 1, 2015
• TIP—Taiwan Independence Party (Taiwan dulidang 台灣獨立黨), est. May 8, 2015
• Social Welfare Party (shehui fulidang 社會福利黨), est. June 26, 2015
• Taiwan Win Party (Taiwan weilaidang 台灣未來黨), est. Aug. 23, 2015
• PEUP—Pan-Pacific E.P. Union Party (panmengdang 泛盟黨), est. Aug. 25, 2015
• FHL—Faith And Hope League (xinxin xiwang lianmeng 信心希望聯盟), est. Sept. 6, 2015
• Taiwan Statebuilding Party (Taiwan jijin 台灣基進), registered on May 15, 2016 as a political party under the name Taiwan Radical Wings (jijindang 基進黨), renamed on April 29, 2019; on request the party confirmed that using the English abbreviation "TSP" is permissible
• Taiwan Animal Protection Party (Taiwan dongwu baohudang 台灣動物保護黨), est. Aug. 8, 2016
• Taiwan People's Communist Party (Taiwan renmin gongchandang 台灣人民共產黨), est. Feb. 4, 2017
• IFU—Interfaith Union (zonghua jiaoxin lianmeng 宗華教信聯盟 aka zongjiao lianmeng 宗教聯盟), est. May 16, 2017
• TOPEP—Taiwan Obasang Political Equality Party (xiaomin canzheng oubasang lianmeng 小民參政歐巴桑聯盟), est. Dec. 18, 2017
• CPA—Congress Party Alliance (guohui zhengdang lianmeng 國會政黨聯盟), est. Oct. 18, 2018, absorbed the MKT on Jan. 25, 2019
• United Action Alliance (heyi xingdong lianmeng 合一行動聯盟), est. Nov. 27, 2018
• Stabilizing Force Party (anding liliang 安定力量), est. May 25, 2019
• Sovereign State for Formosa & Pescadores Party (Tai Peng guojifa fali jianguodang 台澎國際法法理建國黨, abbrev. taipengdang 台澎黨), est. June 30, 2019
• Formosa Alliance (xiledao lianmeng 喜樂島聯盟), established as a political party on July 20, 2019
• TAPA—Taiwan Action Party Alliance (yibian yiguo xingdongdang 一邊一國行動黨), est. Aug. 18, 2019 by supporters of former ROC president Chen Shui-bian, announced its disbanding on Jan. 20, 2020 following Chen's decision to quit politics
• Taiwan Renewal Party (Taiwan weixin 台灣維新 or Taiwan weixindang 台灣維新黨), est. Aug. 24, 2019
• MiLinguall Party (Taiwan shuangyu wufadang 臺灣雙語無法黨), est. Jan. 19, 2020
• Republican Party (gonghedang 共和黨), registered with the ROC authorities on April 24, 2020
• Judicial Reform Party (sifa gaigedang 司法改革黨) aka "Judicial Revolution Party", est. July 1, 2023

The highest party post available is usually the chairperson (zhuxi 主席), some parties like the KMT and the DPP also have the additional post of secretary-general (mishuzhang 秘書長). Another colloquial term for party chairperson occasionally used in Taiwan's media is dangkui 黨魁.

In the ROC, the ruling party is usually referred to in Chinese as zhizhengdang 執政黨, while the Chinese term for opposition party is zaiyedang 在野黨. Given the key role of the presidency in the overall functioning of the government, the term "ruling party" denotes which political party occupies the Presidential Office.

The Chinese term used for Independents (i. e. candidates without party affiliation) is wudangji 無黨籍, abbreviated as "Ind." on this website.

On April 28, 2020 the MOI declared 171 political parties dissolved after they failed to file documents mandated under the Political Parties Act (zhengdangfa 政黨法), telling them to designate one official to supervise their liquidation and submit a clear accounting of all cash transactions and assets under their name to the ministry. The parties in question included the Trees Party, the FHL, and others.

TOP   HOME    [◆ Overview]    [Other parties]

Political party identification in Taiwan since 1992

According to research conducted by the Election Study Center (xuanju yanjiu zhongxin 選舉研究中心, abbrev. ESC) of the National Chengchi University (guoli zhengzhi daxue 國立政治大學, abbrev. zhengda 政大 in Chinese and NCCU in English) in Taipei, the political party identification of the Taiwanese since 1992 has been as follows:

The precise denomination for the last column on the right was "IND or Non response" (zhongli wu fanying 中立無反應). Please note that the ESC data made no mention of the NPSU. For the ESC graphic click here.

TOP   HOME    [◆ Overview]    [Party identification]

===== ===== ===== ===== =====

◆ The KMT and affiliates

• Facts about the KMT
• Top leaders of the KMT
• KMT Secretary-generals
• KMT Youth League
• Party congresses ("national congress") of the KMT
• Party assets under scrutiny
• China Youth National Salvation Corps (CYC)

++++++++++   TOP   HOME    [next chapter]   [previous chapter]   ++++++++++

✉ Chinese Nationalist Party / Kuomintang (KMT) 中國國民黨
No. 232-234 Bade Road Sec. 2, Zhongshan District, Taipei City 10492, Taiwan ROC [10492 台北市中山區八德路 2 段 232-234 號] ———————————— 🌏 KMT – Web link

— — — KMT party flag (國民黨黨旗) — — —

Facts about the KMT

• Party history
• Organization
• Overseas chapters

Party history

The KMT has a long tradition, and its origins can be traced back more than a century to pre-ROC times. During the final decades of Imperial China, the "Revive China Society" (xing Zhong hui 興中會) was established on Nov. 24, 1894 by Sun Yat-sen in Honolulu (Hawaii, USA) with the aim of overthrowing the Qing Dynasty, a foreign regime of Manchus that ruled China since 1644. The Revive China Society on Feb. 21, 1895 absorbed another anti-Qing organization, the Fu Jen Literary Society (furen wenshe 輔仁文社) which had been set up on March 13, 1892 in Hong Kong. On July 30, 1905 the Revive China Society and the China Arise Society (huaxinghui 華興會)—founded on Feb. 15, 1904 in Changsha (Hunan)—merged and reorganized in Japan's Tokyo as United League (Zhongguo tongmenghui 中國同盟會, abbrev. tongmenghui 同盟會) aka Revolutionary Alliance.

The Wuchang Uprising (Wuchang qiyi 武昌起義) on Oct. 10, 1911 in Wuchang 武昌 (since 1949 part of Wuhan 武漢, Hubei Province, PRC)—an event also known as the Xinhai Revolution (xinhai geming 辛亥革命)—set off developments that led to the collapse of the Qing four months later. In November 1911 the HQ of the United League were moved from Tokyo to Shanghai, and after the establishment of the ROC the United League on Aug. 7, 1912 merged with four smaller organizations, including the United Republican Party (tongyi gonghedang 統一共和黨), the All People's Party (guomin gongdang 國民公黨), the Nationalist Vanguards Association (guomin gongjinhui 國民共進會) aka People's Association for Mutual Advancement, and the Association for the Advancement of Republicanism (gonghe shijinhui 共和實進會), constituting the Nationalist Party (guomindang 國民黨) aka Kuomintang/KMT. The founding of the KMT was officially formalized on Aug. 25 that year with an inaugural meeting in the Huguang Guild Hall (huguang huiguan 湖廣會館) in Beijing.

When ROC President Yuan Shikai sought to restore monarchy with himself as emperor, he declared the KMT illegal on Nov. 4, 1913. Sun Yat-sen, who had gone into exile in Japan, on July 8, 1914 established the Chinese Revolutionary Party (Zhonghua gemingdang 中華革命黨) in Tokyo. After Yuan's death Sun returned to China and reorganized the Chinese Revolutionary Party as Chinese Nationalist Party/KMT (Zhongguo guomindang 中國國民黨) on Oct. 10, 1919 in Shanghai.

There were two periods when the KMT had a collective leadership (jiti lingdao 集體領導) under the Standing Committee of the Central Executive Committee (zhongyang zhixing weiyuanhui changwu weiyuanhui 中央執行委員會常務委員會)—the first time from March 12, 1925 to May 19, 1926, the second time from March 11, 1927 to Dec. 7, 1935, both followed by terms of office under the chairman of the Standing Committee of the Central Executive Committee (zhongyang zhixing weiyuanhui changwu weiyuanhui zhuxi 中央執行委員會常務委員會主席). The KMT never repeated the model of collective leadership after Chiang Kai-shek had established himself as uncontested paramount leader of the party in 1938.

Please note that the KMT top leaders shown in the list below used various titles. The Revive China Society featured a double leadership with a chairman (zhuxi 主席) and a president (huizhang 會長). As leader of the United League Sun Yat-sen used the title "president" (zongli 總理) which he also used as head of the Chinese Revolutionary Party and of the KMT after 1919. Between 1912 and 1913 the KMT's top post was chairman (lishizhang 理事長). Chiang Kai-shek was referred to as "director-general" (zongcai 總裁) of the party between 1938 and his death in 1975. Both Sun Yat-sen's title "president" and Chiang Kai-shek's title "director-general" were retired after their respective holder's demise and never used for another KMT leader again. Chiang's successor held the title chairman of the central committee (zhongyang weiyuanhui zhuxi 中央委員會主席), from 1976 on all KMT top leaders have been referred to as chairperson (zhuxi 主席).

TOP   HOME    [◆ KMT]    [Basic facts]

Organization

The highest decision-making body of the KMT is the Central Standing Committee (zhongyang changwu weiyuanhui 中央常務委員會, abbrev. zhongchanghui 中常會), elected by the Central Committee (zhongyang weiyuanhui 中央委員會), which in turn is elected by KMT members. The National Congress (quanguo daibiao dahui 全國代表大會) is the formal platform where the party chairperson is sworn in. Important KMT committees are the following:

▶  Administration Committee (xingzheng guanli weiyuanhui 行政管理委員會, abbrev. xingguanhui 行管會), subdivisions:
 ▸▸ General Office (zongwushi 總務室)
 ▸▸ Finance Office (caiwushi 財務室)
 ▸▸ Personnel Office (renshishi 人事室)
 ▸▸ Information Center (zixun zhongxin資訊中心)
▶  Culture and Communications Committee (wenhua chuanbo weiyuanhui 文化傳播委員會, abbrev. wenchuanhui 文傳會), subdivisions:
 ▸▸ Communications Department (chuanbobu 傳播部)
 ▸▸ Cultural Department (wenxuanbu 文宣部)
 ▸▸ KMT Party History Institute (dangshiguan 黨史館)
 ▸▸ New Media Division (xin meiti bu 新媒體部)
▶  Organizational Development Committee (zuzhi fazhan weiyuanhui 組織發展委員會, abbrev. zufahui 組發會), subdivisions:
 ▸▸ Community Volunteers Department (shehui zhigongbu 社會志工部)
 ▸▸ Elections Mobilization Department (xuanju dongyuanbu 選舉動員部)
 ▸▸ Organization and Operations Department (zuzhi jingyingbu 組織經營部)
 ▸▸ Overseas Department (haiwai ji guoji shiwubu 海外暨國際事務部, abbrev. haiwaibu 海外部)
 ▸▸ Women's Department (funübu 婦女部)
 ▸▸ Youth Department (qingnianbu 青年部)
▶  Party Disciplinary Committee (kaohe jilü weiyuanhui 考核紀律委員會, abbrev. kaojihui 考紀會), subdivisions:
 ▸▸ Audit Office (jiheshi 稽核室)
 ▸▸ Evaluation and Control Office (kaoguanshi 考管室)
▶  Policy Committee (zhengce weiyuanhui 政策委員會, abbrev. zhengweihui 政委會), subdivisions:
 ▸▸ Mainland Affairs Department (dalu shiwubu 大陸事務部)
 ▸▸ Policy Coordination Department (zhengce xietiaobu 政策協調部)
 ▸▸ Policy Research Department (zhengce yanjiubu 政策研究部)

Another noteworthy organization under the KMT is the Institute of Revolutionary Practice (geming shijian yanjiuyuan 革命實踐研究院, abbrev. geshiyuan 革實院, 🏁—yuanzhang 院長) aka Sun Yat-sen Institution on Policy Research and Development, established on July 26, 1949. Between Oct. 25, 2000 and Oct. 18, 2017 it was called National Development Research Institute (guojia fazhan yanjiuyuan 國家發展研究院, abbrev. guofayuan 國發院). Another senior position in the institute is president (zhuren 主任).

On April 1, 2020 the KMT announced the establishment of the Reform Committee (gaige weiyuanhui 改革委員會), divided into four groups focused on cross-strait policy, organizational reform, youth participation, and financial stability. The committee is headed by the KMT chairman as convener (zong zhaojiren 總召集人) and altogether has 62 members.

On March 6, 2024 the KMT restructured its Huang Fuxing branch (Huang Fuxing dangbu 黃復興黨部) and renamed it Veterans Service Working Committee (tuiwu junren fuwu gongzuo weiyuanhui 退伍軍人服務工作委員會). The organization had first been set up on July 1, 1956 by then-VAC head Chiang Ching-kuo as "Veterans Employment Department" (guojun tuichuyi jiuye renyuan dangbu 國軍退除役就業人員黨部) to bolster the loyalty of retired military personnel and their dependents to the KMT. Please note that the term "Huang Fuxing" is not a personal name but stands for the Chinese slogan "The descendants of the Yan Emperor and the Yellow Emperor revive China" (Yan Huang zisun, fuxing Zhonghua 炎黃子孫，復興中華) which can also be interpreted as a rallying cry.

TOP   HOME    [◆ KMT]    [Basic facts]

Overseas chapters

On June 8, 2022 the KMT opened a US liaison office under the name "KMT Representative Office in the United States" (Zhongguo guomindang zhu Mei daibiaochu 中國國民黨駐美代表處) in Washington DC (address: 601 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC 20004, USA).

TOP   HOME    [◆ KMT]    [Basic facts]

Top leaders of the KMT

• Selection of presidential candidates

• Between Aug. 25, 1912 and March 22, 1913, Sung Chiao-jen 孫逸仙 (1882-1913, Hunan) served as interim president of the KMT until his assassination.
• The KMT cancelled Lee Teng-hui's party membership due to his promotion efforts for the TSU on Sept. 21, 2001.
• Lien Chan was named "honorary chairman" (rongyu zhuxi 榮譽主席) on the 17^th KMT national congress on Aug. 19, 2005.

TOP   HOME    [◆ KMT]    [Top leaders]

Selection of presidential candidates

The following chronology shows when the KMT officially nominated its presidential candidate and his/her running mate in direct ROC presidential elections.

TOP   HOME    [◆ KMT]    [Top leaders]

KMT Secretary-generals

• The exact title of KMT secretary-general (mishuzhang 秘書長) was changed twice between the 1920s and 1950s. Between 1926 and 1950, the position was called Secretary-General of the Central Executive Committee (Zhongguo guomindang zhongyang zhixing weiyuanhui mishuzhang 中國國民黨中央執行委員會秘書長), between 1950 and 1952 Secretary-General of the Central Reform Committee (Zhongguo guomindang zhongyang gaizao weiyuanhui mishuzhang 中國國民黨中央改造委員會秘書長), and since 1952 Secretary-General of the Central Committee (Zhongguo guomindang zhongyang dangbu mishuzhang 中國國民黨中央黨部秘書長). Between 1927 and 1929 the position was abolished.
• James Soong was expelled from the KMT on Nov. 17, 1999 for his candidacy as an independent in the 2000 ROC presidential election.

TOP   HOME    [◆ KMT]    [Secretary-generals]

KMT Youth League

✉ KMT Youth League 中國國民黨青年團
B1, No. 232 Bade Road Sec. 2, Zhongshan District, Taipei City 10492, Taiwan ROC [10492 台北市中山區八德路 2 段 232 號 B1] ———————————— 🌏 KMT Youth League – Web link

The KMT Youth League (Zhongguo guomindang qingniantuan 中國國民黨青年團, 🏁—zong tuanzhang 總團長) was established on March 29, 2006.

KMT Youth League chairpersons

TOP   HOME    [◆ KMT]    [KMT Youth League]

Party congresses ("national congress") of the KMT

The Chinese term for KMT party congress is Zhongguo guomindang quanguo daibiao dahui 中國國民黨全國代表大會 (abbrev. quandaihui 全代會).

Please note that during its 19^th congress held in 2013, the KMT adopted a party charter amendment mandating that the KMT national congress delegates should convene for annual sessions.

TOP   HOME    [◆ KMT]    [Party congresses]

Party assets under scrutiny

At the time when Japan was defeated at the end of WWII and had to give up its colony Taiwan, the ROC was de facto a one-party state under the control of the KMT. Two other political parties—the Young China Party and the China Democratic Socialist Party—did exist but neither had significant influence or challenged the KMT's rule. In the ROC's practical reality, the distinction between state and ruling party was often blurred. In October 1945 the ROC took over administration in Taiwan from the Japanese, including countless assets. Today, the KMT is described by its opponents as one of the richest political parties in the world, and while that claim might be exaggerated, it is undeniable that the KMT is an extraordinarily wealthy organization. Following the ROC's democratization questions concerning the KMT's assets are a legitimate issue as any political organization must prove that its possessions have no unlawful origins.

After the KMT lost the presidency and its majority in the Legislative Yuan as a result of the 2016 elections, the DPP-led administration set up the Ill-gotten Party Assets Settlement Committee (budang dangchan chuli weiyuanhui 不當黨產處理委員會, abbrev. dangchanhui 黨產會 in Chinese and CIPAS in English) on Aug. 31, 2016 and started investigating the origins and legitimacy of assets mainly of the KMT as well as of organizations close to or affiliated with the KMT, e. g. the China Youth National Salvation Corps (CYC), the National Women's League of the ROC (NWL), the Chinese Association for Relief and Ensuing Services (CARES), the Confucius-Mencius Society of the ROC, the Central Motion Picture Corporation (Zhong ying gufen youxian gongsi 中影股份有限公司, abbrev. Zhongying 中影 in Chinese and CMPC in English), the ROC Public Service Association (Zhonghua minguo minzhong fuwu zongshe 中華民國民眾服務總社), and others. The CIPAS's ongoing extensive investigations included probes of financial transactions in which entities like the Broadcasting Corporation of China (BCC), the Institute of Revolutionary Practice, the Mingsheng Foundation (minsheng jijinhui 民生基金會), the New Taiwanese Cultural Foundation (xin Taiwan ren wenjiao jijinhui 新台灣人文教基金會)—founded in 1998 by Ma Ying-jeou—etc. were involved. Another focus of the CIPAS's research concerns the takeover and handling of Japanese assets by the ROC government in order to determine how much of these assets ended up in KMT possession instead of in the state coffers.

On Nov. 26, 2016 the CIPAS declared that the Central Investment Co. (zhongyang touzi gongsi 中央投資公司) and its spinoff Hsinyutai Co. (xinyutai gongsi 欣裕台公司) were ill-gotten assets of the KMT and ruled that they had to be transferred to the state. On June 29, 2018 the National Development Foundation (guojia fazhan jijinhui 國家發展基金會), the Minchuan Foundation (minquan jijinhui 民權基金會) and the Mintsu Foundation (minzu jijinhui 民族基金會) were declared KMT-affiliated organizations as well. On Aug. 4, 2020 the CIPAS stated that of all the land that the KMT acquired following its retreat to Taiwan in 1949, 85 percent was transferred to the party free of charge.

Furthermore, DPP legislators accused organizations like the World League for Freedom and Democracy (WLFD) and the Asian Pacific League for Freedom and Democracy (APLFD) of 'catering to KMT fat cats' and moved to reduce funding provided to the WLFD and the APLFD by the ROC government. The KMT in turn accused the DPP of staging a 'witchhunt' aimed at the destruction of the KMT. It can be expected that the CIPAS's proceedings will continue to make headlines as long as the DPP remains the ruling party in the ROC.

TOP   HOME    [◆ KMT]    [Controversial assets]

China Youth National Salvation Corps (CYC)

✉ China Youth National Salvation Corps (CYC) 中國青年救國團
No. 69-1 Minquan East Road Sec. 2, Zhongshan District, Taipei City 10468, Taiwan ROC [10468 台北市中山區民權東路 2 段 69-1 號] ———————————— 🌏 CYC – Web link
Alternative logo

The China Youth National Salvation Corps (Zhongguo qingnian jiuguotuan 中國青年救國團, abbrev. jiuguotuan 救國團, 🏁—zhuren 主任) aka China Youth Corps (CYC) was established on Oct. 31, 1952 as China Youth Anti-Communist National Salvation Corps (Zhongguo qingnian fangong jiuguotuan 中國青年反共救國團) with the purpose of providing basic military training to youths before they were conscripted into the ROC armed forces. Since 1956 the CYC awards the annual Youth Medal (qingnian jiangzhang 青年獎章). Until Dec. 23, 1969 the organization was under the supervision of the MND. It became an NGO on Aug. 28, 1989, its current name was adopted on Oct. 25, 2000. CYC's top position is chairperson, by some media referred to as "director" in English, the next most senior post is convener (zhaojiren 召集人) which some media also refer to as "chairman" (lishizhang 理事長).

CYC chairpersons

Although formally not a KMT organization, the CYC is regarded as being close to the KMT and as such became an object of investigation by the Ill-gotten Party Assets Settlement Committee (CIPAS) which on Aug. 7, 2018 determined the CYC to be KMT-affiliated, freezing its assets. On Aug. 1, 2024 the Taipei High Administrative Court (Taibei gaodeng xingzheng fayuan 臺北高等行政法院) upheld the decision to freeze the assets of the CYC.

TOP   HOME    [◆ KMT]    [CYC]

===== ===== ===== ===== =====

◆ The DPP and affiliates

Facts about the DPP DPP Chairpersons DPP Secretary-generals DPP factions Party congresses / national conventions of the DPP

World United Formosans for Independence (WUFI) Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) Taiwan Association of University Professors (TAUP) Taiwan Society The World Taiwanese Congress (WTC) and its members Other active organizations in the pan-green camp

++++++++++   TOP   HOME    [next chapter]   [previous chapter]   ++++++++++

✉ Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) 民主進步黨
10 F., No. 30 Beiping East Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City 10049, Taiwan ROC [10049 台北市中正區北平東路 30 號 10 樓（華山商務大樓內）] ———————————— 🌏 DPP – Web link
Alternative logo (since ca. January 2021)

— — — DPP party flag (民進黨黨旗) — — —

Facts about the DPP

• Party history
• Focus on Taiwan Independence
• Organization
• Overseas chapters

Party history

During the martial law period in Taiwan which ended on July 15, 1987, the ROC was de facto a one-party dictatorship as the establishment of new political parties was prohibited, and parties like the Young China Party and the China Democratic Socialist Party neither had real clout nor dared to challenge the KMT's claim to power. A melting pot for political opposition activity since the mid-1970s was a loose alliance called dangwai 黨外 (= outside the party, i. e. the KMT). The goals of dangwai activists were quite diverse, the most important objectives were democratization (minzhuhua 民主化) and Taiwan independence (Taiwan duli 台灣獨立, abbrev. Taidu 台獨) as well as full civil and human rights.

When the DPP was formed on Sept. 28, 1986, a majority of its leadership was recruited from veteran dangwai activists. The event in the Grand Hotel (yuanshan da fandian 圓山大飯店) in Taipei was attended by altogether 132 opposition figures, including an 18-member party-founding organizing committee (chuangdang shibaren gongzuo xiaozu 創黨 18 人工作小組) which comprised the following persons:

Please note that the only KMT member attending the DPP launch ceremony was Tao Pai-chuan 陶百川 (1903-2002, Zhejiang), a former presidential advisor known as an advocate for democracy and respected for his moderate views.

TOP   HOME    [◆ DPP]    [Basic facts]

Focus on Taiwan Independence

Promotion of de jure Taiwan independence has been a central part of the DPP program since the beginning. On Oct. 13, 1991 the DPP adopted the "Taiwan Independence Clause" (Taidu danggang 台獨黨綱) which on May 5, 1999 was replaced with the "Resolution on Taiwan's Future" (Taiwan qiantu jueyiwen 台灣前途決議文). On Sept. 30, 2007 the "Resolution on making Taiwan a normal country" (zhengchang guojia jueyiwen 正常國家決議文) was passed.

TOP   HOME    [◆ DPP]    [Basic facts]

Organization

The most important DPP leadership organizations are the following:

▶  Central Standing Committee (zhongyang changwu weiyuanhui 中央常務委員會, abbrev. zhongchanghui 中常會),
▶  Central Executive Committee (zhongyang zhixing weiyuanhui 中央執行委員會, abbrev. zhongzhiwei 中執委),
▶  Central Review Committee (zhongyang pingyi weiyuanhui 中央評議委員會, abbrev. zhongpingwei 中評委),
▶  Policy Committee (zhengce weiyuanhui 政策委員會, abbrev. zhengcehui 政策會),
▶  Financial Management Committee (caizheng weiyuanhui 財務委員會, abbrev. caiweihui 財委會), and
▶  Secretariat (mishuchu 秘書處).

There is also a Campaign Strategy Committee (xuanju duice weiyuanhui 選舉對策委員會, abbrev. xuanduihui 選對會). Furthermore, the DPP has several Departments, including the following:

▶  Department of Culture and Communication (wenhua xuanchuanbu 文化宣傳部, abbrev. wenxuanbu 文宣部),
▶  Department of International Affairs (guoji shiwubu 國際事務部, abbrev. guojibu 國際部),
▶  Department of China Affairs (Zhongguo shiwubu 中國事務部, abbrev. zhongshibu 中事部),
▶  Department of Youth development (qingnian fazhanbu 青年發展部, abbrev. qingfabu 青發部),
▶  Department of Women's development (funü fazhanbu 婦女發展部, abbrev. fufabu 婦發部),
▶  Department of Social movements (shehui yundongbu 社會運動部, abbrev. sheyunbu 社運部),
▶  Department of Hakka Affairs (kejia shiwubu 客家事務部, abbrev. kejiabu 客家部),
▶  Department of Indigenous Affairs (yuanzhu minzu shiwubu 原住民族事務部, abbrev. yuanminbu 原民部),
▶  Department of Organizational development (zuzhi tuiguangbu 組織推廣部, abbrev. zuzhibu 組織部),
▶  Department of the Internet (wanglu fazhanbu 網路發展部, abbrev. wanglubu 網路部),
▶  Poll Center (minyi diaocha zhongxin 民意調查中心, abbrev. mindiao zhongxin 民調中心), and
▶  Democracy Institute (Taiwan minzhu xueyuan 台灣民主學院).

The DPP website lists a Taiwan Institute of Democracy (minjindang Taiwan minzhu xueyuan 民進黨台灣民主學院), its statutes were posted on July 17, 1996.

A New Immigrant Committee (xin zhumin shiwu weiyuanhui 新住民事務委員會) was set up on Feb. 22, 2017. On July 11, 2007 the DPP Central Standing Committee decided to merge the Department of China Affairs with the Department of International Affairs, but on July 25, 2012 the Department of China Affairs was reinstated. This development reflects the controversy within the DPP about the best way how to deal with the PRC/China. The debate about the China issue has been going on for years, and to this day DPP heavyweights have not reached a consensus yet whether to engage in dialogue with the Chinese Communists or to clearly distance themselves from China.

Please note that the Department of China Affairs is not identical with the DPP's China Affairs Committee (Zhongguo shiwu weiyuanhui 中國事務委員會) which was formally established on Nov. 21, 2012 and held its first meeting on May 9, 2013 with nine members, all of them born in Taiwan—Su Tseng-chang 蘇貞昌 (b. 1947) as convener (zhaojiren 召集人), Chen Chu 陳菊 (b. 1950), Chiou I-jen 邱義仁 (b. 1950), Frank Hsieh 謝長廷 (b. 1946), Ker Chien-ming 柯建銘 (b. 1951), Lai Ching-te 賴清德 (b. 1959), Tsai Ing-wen 蔡英文 (b. 1956), Wu Nai-jen 吳乃仁 (b. 1947), and Yu Shyi-kun 游錫堃 (b. 1948).

In order to promote the New Southbound Policy (xin nanxiang zhengce 新南向政策, abbrev. NSP) adopted by ROC President Tsai Ing-wen's DPP-led administration, the DPP on Oct. 5, 2016 established a Committee for the Development of Overseas Trade Interests (haiwai fazhan weiyuanhui 海外發展委員會), headed by a convener (zhaojiren 召集人).

TOP   HOME    [◆ DPP]    [Basic facts]

Overseas chapters

The DPP maintains several offices in foreign countries, including the following according to the DPP website.

TOP   HOME    [◆ DPP]    [Basic facts]

DPP Chairpersons

• Selection of presidential candidates

☂—DPP chairpersons can take a 'leave of absence' (qingjia 請假) if necessary, and they can appoint an acting party chairperson for that period. The following table shows party heads who took a leave of absence from their post.

Notes about changes in party membership of former DPP chairpersons

• Hsu Hsin-liang left the DPP on May 7, 1999 and rejoined the party on Aug. 12, 2008.
• Shih Ming-teh left the DPP on Nov. 14, 2000.
• Lin I-hsiung left the DPP on Jan. 24, 2006.
• Chen Shui-bian deserted the DPP on Aug. 15, 2008 but was re-admitted on Aug. 14, 2013.
• Although Annette Lu publicly bade farewell to the DPP on May 30, 2018 and in 2019 made an unsuccessful bid to run as a candidate for the Formosa Alliance (xiledao lianmeng 喜樂島聯盟) in the 2020 ROC presidential election with Pang Pai-hsien 彭百顯 as running mate, her DPP membership apparently remained valid throughout and has not been revoked.
• On June 22, 2020 Chen Chu announced that she would give up her DPP membership after she was nominated for ROC Control Yuan President.

TOP   HOME    [◆ DPP]    [Chairpersons]

Selection of presidential candidates

The following chronology shows when the DPP officially nominated its presidential candidate and his/her running mate in direct ROC presidential elections.

TOP   HOME    [◆ DPP]    [Chairpersons]

DPP Secretary-generals

Notes about changes in party membership of former DPP secretary-generals

• Chiou I-jen left the DPP on May 5, 2008.
• Wu Nai-jen announced his withdrawal from the party on Dec. 14, 2018.

TOP   HOME    [◆ DPP]    [Secretary-generals]

DPP factions

For many years, factions (paixi 派系) played a major role in DPP politics. The most important factions (some of them even older than the party itself) and their better-known members are listed below.

• Formosa faction (Meilidao xi 美麗島系)—Hsu Hsin-liang 許信良 (b. 1941), Shih Ming-teh 施明德 (1941-2024), and Huang Hsin-chieh 黃信介 (1928-1999).
• New Tide faction (xin chaoliu paixi 新潮流派系, abbrev. xinxi 新系)—Chiou I-jen 邱義仁 (b. 1950), Lin Cho-shui 林濁水 (b. 1947), Tuan Yi-kang 段宜康 (b. 1963), Wu Nai-jen 吳乃仁 (b. 1947), and Hong Chi-chang 洪奇昌 (b. 1951). Please note that the New Tide faction since 2008 has its own think tank, the New Society for Taiwan (Taiwan xin shehui zhiku 台灣新社會智庫).
• Justice Alliance faction (zhengyi lianxian 正義連線)—Chen Shui-bian 陳水扁 (b. 1950), Yeh Chu-lan 葉菊蘭 (b. 1949), Yu Cheng-hsien 余政憲 (b. 1959), Chiu Yi-ying 邱議瑩 (b. 1971), Hsu Tain-tsair 許添財 (b. 1951), and Gao Jyh-peng 高志鵬 (b. 1963); Chen Chi-mai 陳其邁 (b. 1964) switched to Mainstream Alliance faction in 2000.
• Welfare State Alliance faction (fuliguo lianxian 福利國連線)—Frank Hsieh 謝長廷 (b. 1946), Yao Chia-wen 姚嘉文 (b. 1938), Ker Chien-ming 柯建銘 (b. 1951), Su Tseng-chang 蘇貞昌 (b. 1947), Chang Chun-hsiung 張俊雄 (b. 1938), and Su Jia-chyuan 蘇嘉全 (b. 1956).
• Mainstream Alliance faction (zhuliu lianmeng 主流聯盟)—Chai Trong-rong 蔡同榮 (1935-2014), Wang Sing-nan 王幸男 (b. 1941), and Chen Chi-mai 陳其邁 (b. 1964).
• Green Alliance faction/Green Friendship Alliance (lüse youyi lianxian 綠色友誼連線)—Chen Sheng-hung 陳勝宏 (b. 1944) and Huang Ching-lin 黃慶林 (b. 1937).

During its national convention in 2006 (July 22–23) the DPP decided to dissolve all factions, but the phenomenon of distinct groups within the party had a comeback in 2010.

The "One Side One Country Alliance" (yibian yiguo lianxian 一邊一國連線, abbrev. OSOCA) was formally established on Sept. 27, 2010 by the office of former ROC President Chen Shui-bian after he was incarcerated on corruption charges. Prominent members include DPP politicians Mark Chen Tan-sun 陳唐山 (b. 1935), Hsu Tain-tsair 許添財 (b. 1951), Wang Ding-yu 王定宇 (b. 1969), Chen Chi-mai 陳其邁 (b. 1964); legislators Gao Jyh-peng 高志鵬 (b. 1963), Huang Wei-che 黃偉哲 (b. 1963), Chen Ting-fei 陳亭妃 (b. 1974), Twu Shiing-jer 涂醒哲 (b. 1951); Chen Shui-bian's former office chief Chen Sung-shan 陳淞山 (b. 1964) as well as Chen Shui-bian's son Chen Chih-chung 陳致中 (b. 1979) who had withdrawn from the DPP on June 11, 2010 (re-admitted on Feb. 25, 2015). On Aug. 25, 2020 Taiwanese media reported that according to a DPP statement Mark Chen Tan-sun was no longer a party member after failing to pay his membership fees for 2016, 2017 and 2018, and the party investigation concerning corruption allegations against Chen would hence be closed.

Another pan-green political action group named "Our Generation Alliance" (women zhe yidai 我們這一代) was established on May 5, 2011 by Koo Kwang-ming 辜寬敏 (1926-2023) as an alternative to OSOCA. Members include Ho Po-wen 何博文 (b. 1973), Chien Yu-yen 簡余晏 (b. 1967), Lo Chih-cheng 羅致政 (b. 1964), and Liu Chien-kuo 劉建國 (b. 1969).

Unless noted otherwise, the members of the DPP's factions and groups were born in Taiwan.

An illuminating article written by Courtney Donovan Smith concerning recent developments of factions in the DPP, published on the Taiwan News website on July 25, 2022, can be found here.

TOP   HOME    [◆ DPP]    [Factions]

Party congresses / national conventions of the DPP

The party congresses of the DPP are called quanguo dangyuan daibiao dahui 全國黨員代表大會 (abbrev. quandaihui 全代會) in Chinese.

TOP   HOME    [◆ DPP]    [Party congresses]

World United Formosans for Independence (WUFI)

✉ World United Formosans for Independence (WUFI) 台灣獨立建國聯盟
2 F., No. 27 Hangzhou South Road Sec. 1, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City 10054, Taiwan ROC [10054 台北市中正區杭州南路 1 段 27 號 2 樓] ———————————— 🌏 WUFI – Web link

WUFI (Taiwan duli jianguo lianmeng 台灣獨立建國聯盟, abbrev. Taidu lianmeng 台獨聯盟 or dumeng 獨盟, 🏁—zhuxi 主席) was formally established on Jan. 15, 1970 when the Taiwan Cheng-lien Independence League in Japan (Riben Taiwan qingnian duli lianmeng 日本台灣青年獨立聯盟), the Committee for Human Rights in Formosa in Canada (Jianada Taiwan renquan weiyuanhui 加拿大台灣人權委員會), the United Formosans in America for Independence (Meiguo quanmei Taiwan duli lianmeng 美國全美台灣獨立聯盟), and the Union for Formosa's Independence in Europe (Ouzhou Taiwan duli lianmeng 歐洲台灣獨立聯盟) joined forces with the Taiwan Freedom League (Taiwan ziyou lianmeng 台灣自由聯盟) in Taiwan. WUFI is not a DPP party organization but an influential group advocating the establishment of a "Republic of Taiwan" (Taiwan gongheguo 台灣共和國), with close links to pro-independence activists in the DPP. WUFI's headquarters were set up in Kearny (New Jersey, USA), with branch offices in Taipei, Tokyo, Toronto, and Vienna.

WUFI chairpersons

Former WUFI chairman Ng Chiau-tong was also known under the name Ng Yuzin 黃有仁. Chen Nan-tien is also known under the names Chen Chun-kuang 陳重光 and Richard Chen.

TOP   HOME    [◆ DPP]    [WUFI]

Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA)

✉ Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) 台灣人公共事務會
No. 552 7th Street SE, Washington DC 20003, USA ———————————— 🌏 FAPA – Web link

FAPA (taiwanren gonggong shiwuhui 台灣人公共事務會), a non-profit organization established on Dec. 8, 1982 in Los Angeles (California, USA), is an outspoken advocate for Taiwan independence but not a DPP party organization. Yet, its first three presidents (huizhang 會長) who lived in exile in the US during Taiwan's era of "White Terror" (baise kongbu 白色恐怖) became DPP heavyweights after martial law was lifted in the ROC on July 15, 1987.

In 2000 the Formosan Association for Public Relations (Taiwanren gonggong guanxihui 台灣人公共關係會, abbrev. FAPR) was established as an independent lobby arm of FAPA. The goals of FAPR mirror FAPA’s goals, and FAPR works closely with FAPA to advance US-Taiwan relations.

FAPA presidents

TOP   HOME    [◆ DPP]    [FAPA]

Taiwan Association of University Professors (TAUP)

✉ Taiwan Association of University Professors (TAUP) 台灣教授協會
1 F., No. 15 Lane 25, Linyi Street, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City 10059, Taiwan ROC [10059 台北市中正區臨沂街 25 巷 15 號 1 樓] ———————————— 🌏 TAUP – Web link

TAUP (Taiwan jiaoshou xiehui 台灣教授協會, abbrev. Tai jiao hui 台教會, 🏁—huizhang 會長) was established on Dec. 9, 1990.

TAUP chairpersons

TOP   HOME    [◆ DPP]    [TAUP]

Taiwan Society

✉ Taiwan Society 台灣社
2-2 F., No. 5 Qingdao East Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City 10051, Taiwan ROC [10051 台北市中正區青島東路 5 號 2 樓之 2] ———————————— 🌏 Taiwan Society – Web link

Taiwan Society (Taiwanshe 台灣社, 🏁—shezhang 社長) was established on June 18, 2006. The organization is based on four civic organizations—Taiwan Society North (Taiwan beishe 台灣北社), Taiwan South Society (Taiwan nanshe 台灣南社), Taiwan Society East/Taitung (Taiwan dongshe (Taidong) 台灣東社（台東）), and Taiwan Society East/Hualien (Taiwan dongshe (Hualian) 台灣東社（花蓮）)—which intend to incorporate all Taiwan-priority civic groups and to provide a forum of common interests. The ultimate purpose of Taiwan Society is to promote the ultimate establishment of a modern Taiwan as an independent nation.

Taiwan Society presidents

TOP   HOME    [◆ DPP]    [Taiwan Society]

The World Taiwanese Congress (WTC) and its members

The WTC (shijie Taiwanren dahui 世界台灣人大會), est. Dec. 2, 2001, is an annual meeting for organizations promoting formal Taiwan independence. Besides WUFI, FAPA, TAUP and the Taiwan Society, its numerous members include the following:

• Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (Taiwan jidu changlao jiaohui 台灣基督長老教會, abbrev. PCT), established in 1865;
• Taiwanese Association of America (quan Mei Taiwan tongxianghui 全美台灣同鄉會, abbrev. TAA-USA), est. July 1, 1970;
• World Federation of Taiwanese Associations (shijie Taiwan tongxianghui lianhehui 世界台灣同鄉會聯合會, abbrev. shitaihui 世台會 in Chinese and WFTA in English), est. Sept. 7, 1974;
• Formosan Association for Human Rights (quan Mei Taiwan renquan xiehui 全美台灣人權協會, abbrev. FAHR), established in 1976;
• North America Taiwanese Women's Association (bei Meizhou Taiwan funühui 北美洲台灣婦女會, abbrev. NATWA), established in March 1988;
• Dr. Chen Wen-chen Memorial Foundation (caituan faren Chen Wencheng boshi jinian jijinhui 財團法人陳文成博士紀念基金會), est. May 31, 1990;
• Foundation of Medical Professionals Alliance in Taiwan (Taiwan yijie lianmeng jijinhui 台灣醫界聯盟基金會), est. March 1, 1992;
• Union of Taiwanese Teachers (Taiwan jiaoshi lianmeng 台灣教師聯盟); est. March 8, 1992;
• Goa-Seng-Lang Association For Taiwan Independence (waishengren Taiwan duli cujinhui 外省人臺灣獨立促進會, abbrev. waiduhui 外獨會 in Chinese and GATI in English), est. Aug. 23, 1992;
• Dr. Wang Kang-Lu Memorial Foundation (Wang Kanglu boshi jinian jijinhui 王康陸博士紀念基金會), established in April 1994;
• National Alpine Association of Taiwan (Taiwan guojia shanyue xiehui 台灣國家山岳協會), established in 1998;
• Taiwan New Culture Mountain Association (Taiwan xin wenhua dengshanhui 台灣新文化登山會), est. May 16, 1999;
• Research Association of National Peace-Security in Taiwan (Taiwan guojia heping anquan yanjiu xiehui 台灣國家和平安全研究協會, abbrev. Ta an hui 台安會 in Chinese and TRANPS in English); established in May 1999;
• Friends of Lee Teng-hui Association (Taiwan Li Denghui zhi youhui zonghui 台灣李登輝之友會總會), est. Nov. 14, 2001;
• Original Culture Society (yuanmao wenhua xiehui 原貌文化協會), established in 2001;
• Taiwan United Nations Alliance (Taiwan lianheguo xiejinhui 台灣聯合國協進會), est. Oct. 24, 2003; and
• Hand-in-Hand To Safeguard TAIWAN Alliance (shouhu Taiwan da lianmeng 手護台灣大聯盟), est. Oct. 31, 2003.

The WTC is known for displaying a Taiwan flag (as shown on the right) which is also commonly used as independence flag by like-minded activists.

TOP   HOME    [◆ DPP]    [WTC]

Other active organizations in the pan-green camp

More groups exist in Taiwan and abroad which are affiliated with or close to the DPP and use the "pro Taiwan" label, including the following:

• North America Taiwanese Professors’ Association (bei Meizhou Taiwanren jiaoshou xiehui 北美洲台灣人教授協會, abbrev. NATPA), est. April 24, 1980;
• North American Taiwanese Medical Association (bei Mei Taiwanren yishi xiehui 北美臺灣人醫師協會, abbrev. NATMA), est. July 14, 1984;
• Taiwan State-Creating Forum (jianguo guangchang 建國廣場, abbrev. TSCF), also known in English as "Nation Building Forum", est. July 22, 1995;
• New Taiwan Peace Foundation (caituan faren xin Taiwan heping jijinhui 財團法人新台灣和平基金會), established in 1997, incorporated the Taiwan Brain Trust (xin Taiwan guoce zhiku 新台灣國策智庫)—established in January 2010—in May 2012;
• Nylon Cheng Liberty Foundation ∙ Memorial Museum (Zheng Nanrong jijinhui ∙ jinianguan 鄭南榕基金會 ∙ 紀念館, abbrev. NCLF.MM), est. April 6, 1999;
• Taiwan 228 Care Association (Taiwan ererba guanhuai zonghui 台灣二二八關懷總會), established in June 2000;
• Formosan Political Prisoners Association (Taiwan jieyan shiqi zhengzhi shounanzhe guanhuai xiehui 台灣戒嚴時期政治受難者關懷協會) aka Taiwan Association for the Care of the Victims of Political Persecution during the Martial Law Period, est. July 16, 2000; had previously existed unofficially under the name "Taiwan Union for the Victims of Political Persecution" (Taiwan zhengzhi shounanzhe lianyi zonghui 台灣政治受難者聯誼總會) for ten years;
• 908 Taiwan Republic Campaign (jiulingba Taiwanguo yundong 908 台灣國運動), est. May 29, 2005;
• Taiwan Jianguo Union (Taiwan jianguo lianmeng 台灣建國聯盟, abbrev. Tai jian 台建 in Chinese and TJU in English), est. Dec. 10, 2005;
• Taiwan Young Democratic Union (Taiwan qingnian minzhu lianmeng 台灣青年民主聯盟, abbrev. qingmeng 青盟 in Chinese and TYDU in English), est. Sept. 28, 2006, sometimes also nicknamed "Young Turks" in English;
• Taiwan Civil Government (Taiwan minzhengfu 台灣民政府, abbrev. TCG), est. Feb. 2, 2008;
• Taiwan Friends Association (Taiwan zhi youhui 台灣之友會, abbrev. TFA), est. May 3, 2008;
• Taiwan Nation Alliance (Taiwan guojia lianmeng 台灣國家聯盟, abbrev. TNA), established in May 2008;
• Taiwan Republic Office (Taiwanguo bangongshi 台灣國辦公室), est. Aug. 19, 2008;
• Taiwan Referendum Alliance (gongtou hu Taiwan lianmeng 公投護台灣聯盟, abbrev. gongtoumeng 公投盟 or gonghumeng 公護盟) aka Alliance of Referendum for Taiwan, est. Nov. 2, 2008;
• Friends of Beanstalk Association (shetuan faren Taiwan lüse douzhen zhi youhui 社團法人台灣綠色逗陣之友會, abbrev. lüse douzhen 綠色逗陣), set up in 2009;
• Lee Teng-hui Association for Democracy (Li Denghui minzhu xiehui 李登輝民主協會), est. March 1, 2010;
• Youth Synergy Taiwan Foundation (qingpingtai jijinhui 青平台基金會), established in May 2010;
• Taiwanese National Congress (Taiwan minzu tongmeng 台灣民族同盟), est. Jan. 23, 2011;
• New School For Democracy (huaren minzhu shuyuan 華人民主書院), est. May 30, 2011;
• Taiwan Nation-Building Big Banner Squadron (Taiwan duli jianguo daqidui 台灣獨立建國大旗隊), est. Aug. 19, 2011;
• Taiwan Independence Revolutionary Army (Taiwan duli gemingjun 台灣獨立革命軍, abbrev. taidujun 台獨軍 in Chinese and TIRA in English), established in August 2011;
• Radical Wings (jijin ceyi 基進側翼), est. April 27, 2012, became a political party on May 15, 2016;
• Anti One-China Principle Union (Taiwan fan yi Zhong gu zhuquan lianxian 臺灣反一中顧主權連線, abbrev. fan yi Zhong lianxian 反一中連線), est. April 29, 2013;
• International Committee for a Democratic Taiwan (minzhu Taiwan guoji weiyuanhui 民主台灣國際委員會, abbrev. ICDT), its establishment was announced on June 6, 2013;
• Economic Democracy Union (jingji minzhu lianhe 經濟民主連合, abbrev. jingminlian 經民連), est. July 28, 2013 as Democratic Front Against Cross-Strait Trade in Service Agreement (fan heixiang fumao minzhu zhenxian 反黑箱服貿民主陣線) and renamed on Sept. 10, 2014 (new name officially announced on Oct. 19, 2014);
• Black Island Nation Youth Front (heise daoguo qingnian zhenxian 黑色島國青年陣線), est. Sept. 5, 2013;
• Organization for Taiwanese National Declaration (Taiwan guoji xuanshi cujinhui 台灣國籍宣示促進會, abbrev. OTND), est. Feb. 15, 2014;
• Taiwan Independence Reformation Association (du Tai xin she 獨臺新社, abbrev. TIRA), est. July 19, 2014 (according to some sources on Aug. 15, 2014);
• Nylon's Canteen (anming hezuoshe 暗暝合作社), established in March 2016;
• Central Taiwan Citizen Action Front (zhong Taiwan gongmin xingdong zhenxian 中台灣公民行動陣線), Facebook page introducing the group was set up on Nov. 13, 2016;
• From Ethnos to Nation (manfan daoyushe 蠻番島嶼社, abbrev. FETN), established in December 2016;
• Formosa Alliance (xiledao lianmeng 喜樂島聯盟) aka Island of Joy and Happiness Coalition, formal establishment was announced on April 6, 2018 with a full-page newspaper advertisement in the Liberty Times (ziyou shibao 自由時報), supporters included Lee Teng-hui, Chen Shui-bian, Annette Lu, Yu Shyi-kun, Chang Chun-hsiung, Law I-tieg, Huang Kuo-chang etc. as well as 1,350 leaders of overseas Taiwanese groups; on July 18, 2019 the group announced the decision to form a new political party which was then established under the same name on July 20, 2019;
• Taiwan Citizen Front (Taiwan gongmin zhenxian 台灣公民陣線), est. March 18, 2019;
• DC Friends of Tsai (Huafu xiaoying houyuanhui 華府小英後援會), established in June 2019;
• Defend Democracy Safeguard Taiwan Alliance (shou minzhu hu Taiwan da lianmeng 守民主護台灣大聯盟), est. Aug. 11, 2019, a founding congress (chengli dahui 成立大會) was held on Nov. 10, 2019; and
• Taiwan New Constitution Alliance (Taiwan xinxian lianhe zhenxian 台灣新憲聯合陣線), est. Jan. 23, 2021.

Another increasingly popular flag used by pro-independence activists is shown below left. In addition, the slogan “Keep Taiwan Free!” combined with variations of the Formosan Black Bear mascot (below right) has been used on overseas rallies organized by pro-Taiwan supporters.

TOP   HOME    [◆ DPP]    [Other green organizations]

===== ===== ===== ===== =====

◆ Other major parties in the ROC and their leaders

• New Party (NP)
• People First Party (PFP)
• Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU)
• Non-Partisan Solidarity Union (NPSU)
• New Power Party (NPP)
• Taiwan People's Party (TPP)

++++++++++   TOP   HOME    [previous chapter]   ++++++++++

New Party (NP)

✉ New Party (NP) 新黨
4 F., No. 65 Guangfu South Road, Songshan District, Taipei City 10563, Taiwan ROC [10563 台北市松山區光復南路 65 號 4 樓] ———————————— 🌏 NP – Web link

The New Party (xindang 新黨, abbrev. NP) was established on Aug. 10, 1993 by members of the "New KMT Alliance" (xin guomindang lianxian 新國民黨連線). The organization of the NP includes the following two departments:
▶  National Congress (quanguo weiyuanhui 全國委員會), and
▶  Youth Committee (qingnian weiyuanhui 青年委員會).

Leaders of the NP

Between August 1993 and June 2003 the NP's leading position was convener of the national congress (quanguo weiyuanhui zhaojiren 全國委員會召集人), the post of chairman (zhuxi 主席) was formally created on June 9, 2003. Another high-ranking position is secretary-general (mishuzhang 秘書長).

TOP   HOME    [◆ Other major parties]    [NP]

People First Party (PFP)

✉ People First Party (PFP) 親民黨
2 F., No. 63 Chang'an East Road Sec. 2, Zhongshan District, Taipei City 10455, Taiwan ROC [10455 台北市中山區長安東路 2 段 63 號 2 樓] ———————————— 🌏 PFP – Web link

The People First Party (qinmindang 親民黨, abbrev. PFP) was established on March 31, 2000 by former KMT Secretary-general James Soong and supporters shortly after Soong had narrowly lost the 2000 ROC presidential election.

PFP chairman

TOP   HOME    [◆ Other major parties]    [PFP]

Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU)

✉ Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) 台灣團結聯盟
4-3 F., No. 35 Shaoxing North Street, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City 10049, Taiwan ROC [10049 台北市中正區紹興北街 35 號 4 樓之 3] ———————————— 🌏 TSU – Web link

The Taiwan Solidarity Union (Taiwan tuanjie lianmeng 台灣團結聯盟, abbrev. Tailian 台聯 in Chinese and TSU in English) was established on Aug. 12, 2001 by supporters of former ROC President Lee Teng-hui 李登輝. After the TSU suffered sweeping losses in the 2016 legislative election, the party leadership considered disbanding.

TSU chairpersons

The TSU stripped Shu Chin-chiang of his party membership on March 4, 2014 after Shu had traveled to the PRC with a delegation led by KMT Honorary Chairman Lien Chan (Feb. 17–20, 2014).

TOP   HOME    [◆ Other major parties]    [TSU]

Non-Partisan Solidarity Union (NPSU)

✉ Non-Partisan Solidarity Union (NPSU) 無黨團結聯盟
3 F., No. 5-1 Zhenjiang Street, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City 10051, Taiwan ROC [10051 台北市中正區鎮江街 5 之 1 號 3 樓] ———————————— 🌏 NPSU – Web link

The Non-Partisan Solidarity Union (wudang tuanjie lianmeng 無黨團結聯盟, abbrev. wumeng 無盟 in Chinese and NPSU in English) was established on June 16, 2004.

NPSU chairpersons

TOP   HOME    [◆ Other major parties]    [NPSU]

New Power Party (NPP)

✉ New Power Party (NPP) 時代力量
2-1 F., No. 115 Hangzhou South Road Sec. 1, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City 10060, Taiwan ROC [10060 台北市中正區杭州南路 1 段 115 號 2 樓之 1] ———————————— 🌏 NPP – Web link

The New Power Party (shidai liliang 時代力量, abbrev. shili 時力 in Chinese and NPP in English) was established on Jan. 25, 2015.

NPP chairpersons

Huang Kuo-chang took over as executive chairman (zhixing zhuxi 執行主席) from Freddy Lim whose position had been called founding captain (jiandang shiqide zongduizhang 建黨時期的總隊長). Lim is also known as the lead vocalist of the Taiwanese heavy-metal band Chthonic (shanling 閃靈); he announced his withdrawal from the NPP on Aug. 1, 2019, and on Nov. 27, 2023 he revealed that he had applied to join the DPP. Huang quit the NPP on Nov. 16, 2023 and announced his decision to join the TPP instead. Hsu Yung-ming announced his resignation from the party on Aug. 5, 2020 following bribery accusations, the NPP's Disciplinary Committee (jilü weiyuanhui 紀律委員會) subsequently dismissed Hsu's case as he was no longer a party member.

TOP   HOME    [◆ Other major parties]    [NPP]

Taiwan People's Party (TPP)

✉ Taiwan People's Party (TPP) 台灣民眾黨
12-8 F., No. 142 Zhongxiao East Road Sec. 4, Daan District, Taipei City 10688, Taiwan ROC [10688 台北市大安區忠孝東路 4 段 142 號 12 樓之 8] ———————————— 🌏 TPP – Web link

The Taiwan People's Party (Taiwan minzhongdang 台灣民眾黨, abbrev. TPP) was established on Aug. 6, 2019 by former Taipei City mayor Ko Wen-je and supporters. Turquoise was selected as the background colour for the TPP party emblem because it is exactly between blue and green, and the party hopes to attract people from both political camps.

Please note that following the TPP’s establishment on Aug. 6, 2019 the chosen Chinese name of the party (Taiwan minzhongdang 台灣民眾黨) was widely criticised because it is identical with the name of a political party in Taiwan under Japanese rule called “Taiwanese Popular Party” in English. The latter had been founded on July 10, 1927 in Taichung (name in Japanese: Taiwan minshutō 台湾民衆党) and was disbanded by the Japanese colonial authorities on Feb. 18, 1931. The confusion does not end there but also extends to the TPP’s full English name, because the forerunner of the Taiwanese Popular Party was called Taiwan People’s Party (Taiwan mindang 台灣民黨 / in Japanese: Taiwan mintō 台湾民党), set up on May 29, 1927 and banned just five days later. Furthermore, there is no uniform terminology in English for those two parties in the Japanese colonial period—the Taiwanese Popular Party is sometimes also referred to as Taiwan Popular Party or Taiwanese People’s Party, the Taiwan People’s Party as Formosan Popular Party.

TPP chairperson

TOP   HOME    [◆ Other major parties]    [TPP]

===== ===== ===== ===== =====