Democratic Progressive Party

For other uses, see Democratic Progressive Party (disambiguation).

Democratic Progressive Party
Abbreviation	民進黨
Leader	Tsai Ing-wen (President of the Republic of China)
Chairman	Cho Jung-tai
Secretary-General	Luo Wen-jia
Founded	28 September 1986 (1986-09-28)
Headquarters	Taipei, Taiwan
Think tank	New Frontier Foundation
Membership (2014)	335,643
Ideology	Liberalism Progressivism Social liberalism Taiwanese independence Taiwanese nationalism
Political position	Centre to centre-left
National affiliation	Pan-Green Coalition
Regional affiliation	Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats
International affiliation	Liberal International
Colours	Green
Legislative Yuan	62 / 113
Municipal mayors	2 / 6
Magistrates/mayors	4 / 16
Councillors	238 / 912
Township/city mayors	40 / 204
Party flag
Website
dpp.org.tw
Politics of the Republic of China Political parties Elections

Democratic Progressive Party
Traditional Chinese	民主進步黨
Simplified Chinese	民主进步党
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Mínzhǔ Jìnbù Dǎng Bopomofo ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄓㄨˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄤˇ Gwoyeu Romatzyh Minjuu Jinnbuh Daang Wade–Giles Min²-chu³ Chin⁴-pu⁴ Tang³ Tongyong Pinyin Mínjhǔ Jìnbù Dǎng MPS2 Mínjǔ Jìnbù Dǎng Hakka Romanization Mìn-chú Chin-phu Tóng Southern Min Hokkien POJ Bîn-chú Chìn-pō͘ Tóng Tâi-lô Bîn-tsú Tsìn-pōo Tóng
Commonly abbreviated in Chinese as
Traditional Chinese	民進黨
Simplified Chinese	民进党
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Mínjìn Dǎng Bopomofo ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄉㄤˇ Gwoyeu Romatzyh Minjinn Daang Wade–Giles Min²-chin⁴ Tang³ Tongyong Pinyin Mínjìn Dǎng MPS2 Mínjìn Dǎng Hakka Romanization Mìn-chin Tóng Southern Min Hokkien POJ Bîn-chìn Tóng Tâi-lô Bîn-tsìn Tóng

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is a Taiwanese nationalist and liberal political party in Taiwan. Controlling both the Taiwan Presidency and the unicameral Legislative Yuan, it is the majority ruling party and the dominant party in the Pan-Green Coalition.

Founded in 1986, the DPP is one of two major parties in Taiwan, along with the historically dominant Kuomintang. It has traditionally been associated with strong advocacy of human rights, anti-communism, and a distinct Taiwanese identity. The incumbent President and former leader of the DPP, Tsai Ing-wen, is the second member of the DPP to hold the office.

The DPP is a long-term member of Liberal International and a founding member of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats. It represented Taiwan in the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation. The DPP and its affiliated parties are widely classified as socially liberal because of their strong support for human rights, including support for gender equality, but they also advocate economic liberalism and a Taiwanese national identity. In addition, the DPP is more willing to increase military expenditures, with foreign policy on closer ties with the United States and Japan.

History

The DPP's roots were in opposition to the Kuomintang's one-party authoritarian rule. It was founded as the Tangwai – or "outside-the-KMT" – movement. This movement culminated in the formation of the DPP as an alternative party on 28 September 1986 when eighteen founding members met at Grand Hotel Taipei. A total of 132 people joined the party that day. The new party contested the 1986 election as "nonpartisan" when competing parties remained illegal under national law until the following year. The first members of the party drew heavily from the ranks of family members and defense lawyers of political prisoners as well as intellectuals and artists who had spent time abroad. Such individuals were strongly committed to political change that would ensure constitutional support in Republic of China's freedoms of speech, press, assembly, and association. The party did not at the outset give open support to an independent Republic of China's national identity – a move that could have invited a violent crackdown by the Republic of China's Kuomintang rulers. Its platform was pro-environment and pro-democracy. As more and more of its demands were met during the 1990s – such as the direct popular election of Republic of China's president and all representatives in its Legislative Yuan, and open discussion of Republic of China's repressive past as represented in the February 28 Incident and its long martial law aftermath – a greater variety of views could be advocated in the more liberal political atmosphere. Party members began openly promoting a national identity for Taiwan separate from China. The DPP doctrine also supported reform of the Constitution to change the name of Republic of China to "Republic of Taiwan", though the DPP never aimed to amend the Constitution through a referendum.

Once the DPP had representation in the Legislative Yuan (LY, or Parliament), the party used the legislature as a forum to challenge the government. However, it did not emerge as a formidable force until 1991, when the elderly LY members elected from mainland China provinces in 1948 retired. As the major opposition in the LY, the DPP worked with then-President Lee Teng-hui, the then-leader of KMT, to push through a series of amendments to transfer into a semi-presidential system (for example, Republic of China's premier would no longer have to be confirmed by the LY). Among the electoral reforms, a PR list was adopted and aboriginal seats in the LY created.

2000–2008: in minority government

Former President Chen Shui-bian, the first DPP President (2000-2008)

File:DPP-Taiwan-old.svg

Old DPP logo

The DPP won the presidency with the election of Chen Shui-bian in March 2000 with a plurality, due to Pan-Blue voters splitting their vote between the Kuomintang and independent candidate James Soong, ending more than half a century of KMT rule in Republic of China. Chen softened the party's stance on independence to appeal to moderate voters, appease the United States, and placate China. He also promised not to change the ROC state symbols or declare formal independence as long as the People's Republic of China did not attack Taiwan.

The DPP became the largest party having reached a plurality in the Legislative Yuan for the first time in 2002 following the 2001 legislative election. However, a majority coalition between the KMT, People First Party, and New Party prevented it from taking control of the chamber.

In 2004, President Chen Shui-bian was re-elected by a narrow margin. He and Vice President Annette Lu had been involved in an assassination attempt only hours before the election. The KMT candidate, Lien Chan, demanded a recount the following morning. A judicial recount under the jurisdiction of a special panel of the High Court began on 10 May 2004 and ended on 18 May 2004. It was conducted by about 460 teams situated in 21 courthouses across the Taiwan area. Each team had seven members – one judge, two members each from the district court and the local government election authorities and two witnesses each representing the plaintiff (Pan-Blue Coalition) and the defendant (Pan-Green Coalition). Disputed votes were sent to High Court in Taipei for verification. After the recount, President Chen was confirmed the winner of the election by a smaller margin (25,563 as opposed to 29,518 originally). In the later legislative election, the Pan-Blue Coalition opposition retained control of the chamber.

The DPP suffered a significant election defeat in nationwide local and county elections in December 2005. The pan-blue coalition captured 16 of 23 county and city government offices under the leadership of popular Taipei mayor and KMT Party Chairman Ma Ying-jeou.

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

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

Separate identity

On 30 September 2007, the DPP approved a resolution asserting a separate identity from China and called for the enactment of a new constitution for a "normal nation". It struck an accommodating tone by advocating general use of "Taiwan" as the country's name without calling for abandonment of the name Republic of China.

Tsai Ing-wen, the second DPP President (2016-present) and the leader of the DPP since 2008, she is the first female leader of the DPP.

2008–2016: back to opposition

In the national elections held in early months of 2008, the DPP won less than 25% of the seats (38.2% vote share) in the new Legislative Yuan while its presidential candidate, former Kaohsiung mayor Frank Hsieh, lost to KMT candidate Ma Ying-jeou by a wide margin (41.55% vs. 58.45%). In May, the DPP elected Tsai Ing-wen as the new leader, Tsai became the first female leader of the DPP and the first female leader to lead a major party in Taiwan.

The first months since backed to the opposition were dominated by press coverage of the travails of Chen Shui-bian and his wife Wu Shu-jen. On 15 August 2008, Chen resigned from the DPP and apologized: "Today I have to say sorry to all of the DPP members and supporters. I let everyone down, caused you humiliation and failed to meet your expectations. My acts have caused irreparable damage to the party. I love the DPP deeply and am proud of being a DPP member. To express my deepest regrets to all DPP members and supporters, I announce my withdrawal from the DPP immediately. My wife Wu Shu-jen is also withdrawing from the party." DPP Chairperson followed with a public statement on behalf of the party: "In regard to Chen and his wife's decision to withdraw from the party and his desire to shoulder responsibility for his actions as well as to undergo an investigation by the party's anti-corruption committee, we respect his decision and accept it."

The DPP vowed to reflect on public misgivings towards the party. Chairperson Tsai insisted on the need for the party to remember its history, defend Republic of China's sovereignty and national security, and maintain its confidence.

The party re-emerged as a voice in Taiwan's political debate when Ma's administration reached the end of its first year in office. The DPP marked the anniversary with massive rallies in Taipei and Kaohsiung. Tsai's address to the crowd in Taipei on May 17 proclaimed a "citizens' movement to protect Republic of China" seeking to "protect our democracy and protect Republic of China."

2016–present: in majority government

On 16 January 2016, Taiwan held a general election for its presidency and for the Legislative Yuan. The DPP gained the presidential seat, with the election of Tsai Ing-wen, who received 56.12% of the votes, while her opponent Eric Chu gained 31.2%. In addition, the DPP gained a majority of the Legislative Yuan, winning 68 seats in the 113-seat legislature, up from 40 in 2012 election, thus giving them the majority for the first time in its history. Tsai won reelection to the presidency on 11 January 2020, and the Democratic Progressive Party retained its legislative majority, winning 61 seats.

Policies

Programs supported by the party include moderate social welfare policies involving the rights of women, senior citizens, children, young people, labor, minorities, indigenous peoples, farmers, and other disadvantaged sectors of the society. Furthermore, its platform includes a legal and political order based on human rights and democracy; balanced economic and financial administration; fair and open social welfare; educational and cultural reform; and, independent defence and peaceful foreign policy with closer ties to United States and Japan. For these reasons, it used to be considered a party of the center-left economically though its base consisted largely of the middle class. The party also has a social liberal stance that includes support for gender equality and LGBT rights (the party have supported same-sex marriage under Tsai's leadership), and also have a strong social conservative base, including support from the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan. Since the democratisation of Taiwan in the 1990s, the DPP has had its strongest performance in the Hokkien-speaking counties and cities of Taiwan, compared with the predominantly Hakka and Mandarin-speaking counties, that tend to support the Kuomintang.

The primary political axis in Taiwan involves the issue of Taiwan independence versus eventual unification with China. Although the differences tend to be portrayed in polarized terms, both major coalitions have developed modified, nuanced and often complex positions. Though opposed in the philosophical origins, the practical differences between such positions can sometimes be subtle.

The current official position of the party is that Taiwan is an independent and sovereign country whose territory consists of Taiwan and its surrounding smaller islands and whose sovereignty derives only from the ROC citizens living in Taiwan (similar philosophy of self-determination), based on the "Resolution on Taiwan's Future" in 1999. It considers Taiwan as an independent nation under the name of Republic of China, making a formal declaration of independence unnecessary. The DPP rejects the so-called "One China principle" defined in 1992 as the basis for official diplomatic relations with the PRC and advocates a Taiwanese national identity which is separate from mainland China. The DPP argues that its efforts to promote a Taiwanese national identity are merely an effort to normalize a Taiwanese identity repressed during years of authoritarian Kuomintang rule. The DPP also differs from the KMT on foreign and defense policies in that the DPP considers relations with the United States, Japan, and European states, among other democratic countries, crucial for Taiwan's security.

In contrast, the KMT or pan-blue coalition agrees that the Republic of China is an independent and sovereign country that is not part of the PRC, but argues that a one China principle (with different definitions across the strait) can be used as the basis for talks with China. The KMT also opposes the purposes of Taiwan independence and argues that efforts to establish a Taiwanese national identity separated from the Chinese national identity are unnecessary and needlessly provocative. Some KMT conservative officials have called efforts from DPP "anti-China" (opposing migrants from mainland China, whom DPP officials did not recognize as Taiwanese, but Chinese). At the other end of the political spectrum, the acceptance by the DPP of the symbols of the Republic of China is opposed by the Taiwan Solidarity Union.

The first years of the DPP as the ruling party drew accusations from the opposition that, as a self-styled Taiwanese nationalist party, the DPP was itself inadequately sensitive to the ethnographic diversity of Taiwan's population. Where the KMT had been guilty of Chinese chauvinism, the critics charged, the DPP might offer nothing more as a remedy than Hoklo chauvinism.

China has maintained a hostile position toward the DPP. It has made some efforts to moderate its tone since passing its Anti-Secession Law in 2005 to prevent a popular backlash from Taiwan's voters. In 2008, China stated it was willing to negotiate with any party in Taiwan that "accepts the so-called 1992 consensus" (the consensus agreed by the KMT and the Communist Party of China). The DPP denies the existence of the 1992 consensus between China and Taiwan and demands a greater democratic opening in China.

The deep-rooted hostility between Taiwanese aborigines and (Taiwanese) Hoklo, and the aboriginal communities effective KMT networks contribute to aboriginal skepticism against the DPP and the aboriginals tendency to vote for the KMT. Aboriginals have criticized politicians for abusing the "indigenization" movement for political gains, such as aboriginal opposition to the DPP's "rectification" by recognizing the Truku for political reasons, where the Atayal and Seediq slammed the Truku for their name rectification. In 2008, the majority of mountain townships voted for Ma Ying-jeou. However, the DPP share of the aboriginal vote has been rising.

Structure

DPP headquarters at Huashan Business Building Level 10 in Taipei.

The National Party Congress selects, for two year terms, the 30 members of the Central Executive Committee and the 11 members of the Central Review Committee. The Central Executive Committee, in turn, chooses the 10 members of the Central Standing Committee. The DPP since 2012 also has a "China Affairs Committee" to deal with Cross-Strait relations; the name caused some controversy within the party and in the Taiwan media, with critics suggesting that "Mainland Affairs Committee" or "Cross-Strait Affairs Committee" would show less of a hostile "One Country on Each Side" attitude.

For many years the DPP officially recognized several factions within its membership, such as the New Tide faction (新潮流系), the Formosa faction (美麗島系), the Justice Alliance faction (正義連線系) and Welfare State Alliance faction (福利國系). Each faction endorsed slightly different policies. The factions were often generationally identifiable, representing individuals who had entered the party at different times. In 2006, the party ended recognition of factions. The factions have since stated that they will comply with the resolution. However, the factions are still referred to by name in national media.

Chair

Main article: List of leaders of the Democratic Progressive Party

• Current Chair: Cho Jung-tai (since January 2019)

Secretary-General

Main article: List of Secretaries-General of the Democratic Progressive Party

• Current Secretary-General: Luo Wen-jia (since January 2019)

Legislative Yuan leader (caucus leader)

• Shih Ming-teh (1 February 1993–1 February 2002)
• Ker Chien-ming (since 1 February 2002)

Election results

Cho Jung-tai, the Chairperson of DPP.

Presidential elections

Election	Candidate	Running mate	Total votes	Share of votes	Outcome
2020	Tsai Ing-wen	Lai Ching‑te	8,170,231	57.1%	Elected
2016	Tsai Ing-wen	Chen Chien-jen ( Ind.)	6,894,744	56.3%	Elected
2012	Tsai Ing-wen	Su Jia-chyuan	6,093,578	45.6%	Defeated
2008	Frank Hsieh Chang-ting	Su Tseng-chang	5,445,239	41.5%	Defeated
2004	Chen Shui-bian	Annette Lu Hsiu-lien	6,446,900	50.1%	Elected
2000	Chen Shui-bian	Annette Lu Hsiu-lien	4,977,737	39.3%	Elected
1996	Peng Ming-min	Frank Hsieh Chang-ting	2,274,586	21.1%	Defeated

Legislative elections

Election	Total seats won	Total votes	Share of votes	Changes	Party leader	Status	President
2020	61 / 113	4,811,241	53.98%	Template:INcrease 8 seats	Cho Jung-tai	Majority	Tsai Ing-wen Template:DPP/logo
2016	68 / 113	5,370,953	44.1%	28 seats	Tsai Ing-wen	Majority	Tsai Ing-wen Template:DPP/logo
2012	40 / 113	4,556,526	34.6%	13 seats	Tsai Ing-wen	Minority	Ma Ying-jeou Template:KMT/logo
2008	27 / 113	3,775,352	38.2%	62 seats	Chen Shui-bian	Minority	Chen Shui-bian Template:DPP/logo
2004	89 / 225	3,471,429	37.9%	2 seats	Chen Shui-bian	Minority	Chen Shui-bian Template:DPP/logo
2001	87 / 225	3,447,740	36.6%	21 seats	Chen Shui-bian Template:DPP/logo	Minority	Chen Shui-bian Template:DPP/logo
1998	70 / 225	2,966,834	29.6%	16 seats	Lin Yi-hsiung	Minority	Lee Teng-hui Template:KMT/logo
1995	54 / 164	3,132,156	33.2%	3 seats	Shih Ming-teh	Minority	Lee Teng-hui Template:KMT/logo
1992	51 / 161	2,944,195	31.0%	30 seats	Hsu Hsin-liang	Minority	Lee Teng-hui Template:KMT/logo

Local elections

Election	Magistrates and mayors	Councillors	Township/city mayors	Township/city council representatives	Village chiefs	Party leader
2018 unified	6 / 22	238 / 912	40 / 204	151 / 2,148	285 / 7,744	Tsai Ing-wen
2014 unified	13 / 22	291 / 906	54 / 204	194 / 2,137	390 / 7,836	Tsai Ing-wen
2010 municipalities only	2 / 5	130 / 314	—	—	220 / 3,757	Tsai Ing-wen
2009	4 / 17	128 / 587	34 / 211	—	—	Tsai Ing-wen
2006 municipalities only	1 / 2	33 / 96	—	—	—	Chen Shui-bian
2005	6 / 23	192 / 901	35 / 319	—	—	Chen Shui-bian
2002 municipalities only	1 / 2	31 / 96	—	—	—	Chen Shui-bian
2001-2002	9 / 23	147 / 897	28 / 319	—	—	Chen Shui-bian
1998 municipalities only	1 / 2	28 / 96	—	—	—	Lin Yi-hsiung
1997-1998	12 / 23	114 / 886	28 / 319	—	—	Hsu Hsin-liang
1994 province-level only	1 / 3	52 / 175	—	—	—	Shih Ming-teh

National Assembly elections

Election	Total seats won	Total votes	Share of votes	Changes	Party leader	Status	President
2005	127 / 300	1,647,791	42.52%	28 seats	Annette Lu Hsiu-lien	Plurality	Chen Shui-bian Template:DPP/logo
1996	127 / 334	3,121,423	29.9%	33 seats	Shih Ming-teh	Minority	Lee Teng-hui Template:KMT/logo
1991	66 / 325	2,036,271	23.3%	66 seats	Huang Shin-chieh	Minority	Lee Teng-hui Template:KMT/logo

See also

• Anti-Communism
• Liberalism in Taiwan
• Human rights in Taiwan
• Culture of Taiwan
• Taiwan independence movement
• Taiwanese people
• Taiwanese identity
• Resolution on Taiwan's Future
• Referendums in Taiwan
• Foreign relations of Taiwan
• February 28 Incident
• Formosa Incident
• Ministry of Education (Taiwan)
• Sunflower Student Movement

External links

• DPP Official website
• Academic thesis on the factions within DPP