Tsai Ing-wen - Taiwanese politician who is the President of the Republic of China
Table of Contents
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Overview
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- Early life and education
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- Early career
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- DPP chairwoman
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- 2012 presidential election
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- 2016 presidential election
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- First term
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- Second term
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- Political views
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- Personal life
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- Awards and recognition
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References
Overview
Tsai Ing-wen (Chinese: 蔡英文; pinyin: Cài Yīngwén; born August 31, 1956) is a Taiwanese politician who is the current President of the Republic of China, in office since 2016. Tsai is the second president from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the first woman to be elected to the office.
Elected in January 2016, Tsai took office on May 20, 2016, succeeding Ma Ying-jeou. She won a second term in the 2020 presidential election, becoming the first DPP president to do so.
A lawyer by profession, Tsai was previously the chairwoman of the DPP from 2008 to 2012, during which time she led the party to a majority in the Legislative Yuan in the 2009 elections. She was also the DPP’s presidential candidate in the 2012 and 2016 elections.
- Early life and education
Tsai Ing-wen was born on August 31, 1956, in Taipei, Taiwan. She is the second of five children of Tsai Ting-kai, a professor of economics at National Chengchi University, and Chen Shui-bian, a housewife. Tsai’s parents divorced when she was nine years old and she was raised by her mother. Tsai graduated from Taipei Municipal University with a bachelor’s degree in law in 1980 and earned a master’s degree in law from Cornell Law School in the United States in 1984. She also studied at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland.
In 1980, Tsai Ing-wen began working as a researcher for the Taiwan government’s Fair Trade Commission. She left the commission in 1984 to work as a lawyer and later as a legal consultant for several banks and insurance companies. In 2000, Tsai Ing-wen returned to academia, teaching law at Soochow University and the National Chung Cheng University. She also served as the dean of the College of Law at Soochow University. In 2003, Tsai Ing-wen retired from academia to enter politics.
- Early career
Tsai Ing-wen is a Taiwanese politician who is the current President of the Republic of China, in office since 2016. Tsai is the second president of the ROC to be popularly elected, and the first woman to hold the office.
Tsai Ing-wen was born in Taipei, Taiwan on August 31, 1956, to parents of Hoklo descent. She grew up in a middle-class family in Taipei and attended Taipei Municipal Girls’ High School before enrolling at National Taiwan University, where she studied law. After graduation, Tsai worked as a researcher for the Taiwan Provincial Government.
In 1980, Tsai moved to the United States to study at Cornell Law School, where she earned her Juris Doctor degree. After returning to Taiwan, Tsai worked as a lawyer and law professor before serving as a senior advisor to the President of the Executive Yuan from 2004 to 2006.
In 2008, Tsai was nominated by the Democratic Progressive Party to run for Mayor of Taipei. She won the election and served as Mayor for two years before resigning to run for election to the Legislative Yuan in 2012. Tsai was elected and became the DPP’s Leader of the Opposition. In 2014, Tsai was again nominated by the DPP to run for President, and she won the election in a landslide victory, becoming the first woman to be elected President of the Republic of China.
- DPP chairwoman
Tsai Ing-wen is the chairwoman of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the president-elect of Taiwan. She is the first female president of Taiwan, and the first DPP president in 16 years.
Tsai was born in Taipei in 1956. She received a bachelor’s degree in law from National Taiwan University in 1978 and a master’s degree in law from Cornell University in 1980. She worked as a lawyer and a university professor before entering politics.
In 2000, Tsai was appointed as the Director of the Mainland Affairs Council, the agency in charge of Taiwan’s relations with China. She served in this role until 2004, when she resigned to run for the DPP’s nomination for the 2004 presidential election. She lost the nomination to Chen Shui-bian, who went on to win the election.
In 2006, Tsai was elected as the DPP’s Chairwoman, a position she has held ever since. She ran for president again in 2012, but lost to incumbent Ma Ying-jeou.
Tsai ran for president for a third time in 2016, and this time she was successful. She won the election with 56.1% of the vote, defeating Kuomintang candidate Eric Chu. She will be sworn in as president on May 20, 2016.
- 2012 presidential election
Tsai Ing-wen, the current President of Taiwan, was elected in 2012, becoming the first female president in Taiwan’s history. She ran on a platform of increased transparency and accountability in government, and improved relations with Mainland China. Tsai’s election was seen as a victory for democracy in Taiwan, and a rebuke of the Beijing-friendly policies of her predecessor, Ma Ying-jeou.
- 2016 presidential election
Tsai Ing-wen is a Taiwanese politician who is the current President of the Republic of China, in office since 2016. She is the first woman to be elected as President in Taiwan’s history.
Tsai ran for President in the 2012 presidential election but was defeated by incumbent President Ma Ying-jeou. She then served as the Leader of the Opposition from 2012 to 2014.
In the 2016 presidential election, Tsai ran again and this time she was victorious, defeating Kuomintang candidate Eric Chu. Tsai received 56.12% of the vote, while Chu received 31.04%.
Tsai’s victory was seen as a major upset and a repudiation of the Kuomintang’s pro-China policies. During her campaign, Tsai promised to maintain Taiwan’s current status quo with China, which includes maintaining the “One China” policy.
Tsai Ing-wen was born in Taipei, Taiwan in 1956. She earned a law degree from National Taiwan University in 1980 and a Ph.D. in law from the London School of Economics in 1984.
After returning to Taiwan, Tsai taught law at Soochow University and National Chengchi University. She also served as a visiting scholar at Harvard University and Columbia University.
In 2000, Tsai was appointed as the Vice Premier of the Republic of China under President Chen Shui-bian. She served in this role until 2002.
In 2006, Tsai was elected as the Chairwoman of the Democratic Progressive Party, becoming the first woman to lead the party.
In the 2012 presidential election, Tsai received 45.63% of the vote, narrowly losing to Kuomintang candidate Ma Ying-jeou.
In the 2016 presidential election, Tsai ran again and this time she was victorious, defeating Kuomintang candidate Eric Chu. Tsai received 56.12% of the vote, while Chu received 31.04%.
Tsai’s victory was seen as a major upset and a repudiation of the Kuomintang’s pro-China policies. During her campaign, Tsai promised to maintain Taiwan’s current status quo with China, which includes maintaining the “One China” policy.
- First term
Tsai Ing-wen (Chinese: 蔡英文; pinyin: Cài Yīngwén; Wade–Giles: Ts’ai Ing-wen; born August 31, 1956) is a Taiwanese politician who is the current President of the Republic of China, in office since May 2016. Tsai is the second president from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the first woman to be elected to the office.
Elected in January 2016, Tsai assumed office on 20 May 2016, succeeding Ma Ying-jeou. She became the DPP’s presidential nominee after defeating her primary opponents by a wide margin in the party’s primary election in mid-2015. In the 2016 presidential election, Tsai ran against Kuomintang (KMT) candidate Eric Chu and People First Party candidate James Soong. Tsai won with 56.1% of the votes, and was sworn in as president on 20 May 2016.
Tsai’s first term has been marked by several significant events, including tensions with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) over the status of Taiwan, the legalization of same-sex marriage, and the coronavirus pandemic.
Tsai Ing-wen was born in Taipei, Taiwan on August 31, 1956, to parents who had moved from Mainland China to Taiwan in 1949. She grew up in a middle-class household in Taipei and received a bachelor’s degree in law from National Taiwan University in 1978. She then went on to study at Cornell University in the United States, receiving her master’s degree in 1982 and her doctorate in 1985, both in economics.
After returning to Taiwan, Tsai taught at several universities before being appointed as deputy secretary-general of the Presidential Office in 2000. She served in this position until 2004, when she was appointed as chairwoman of the Mainland Affairs Council, the body responsible for managing Taiwan’s relations with the PRC. In 2008, Tsai was appointed as the vice premier under then-President Chen Shui-bian.
In 2012, Tsai resigned from her post as vice premier and began campaigning for the presidency. She was elected as the DPP’s presidential nominee in mid-2015 and went on to win the presidential election in 2016, becoming the first woman to be elected president of Taiwan.
Tsai’s first term has been marked by several significant events, including tensions with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) over the status of Taiwan, the legalization of same-sex marriage, and the coronavirus pandemic.
Tsai has been credited with handling the COVID-19 pandemic effectively, with Taiwan only reporting 12 deaths as of June 2020. However, her handling of the economy has been criticized, with Taiwan’s GDP growth slowing to a six-year low in 2019. In addition, tensions with the PRC have increased during Tsai’s first term, with the PRC cutting off diplomatic ties with Taiwan in June 2020 and taking a number of actions to isolate Taiwan internationally.
- Second term
Tsai Ing-wen was re-elected in 2020, becoming the first democratically-elected president in Taiwan to serve a second term. She ran on a platform of continued reform and stability, and pledged to maintain peace with China while also pushing for Taiwan’s international recognition. Her victory was seen as a rebuke of China, which had been trying to interfere in the elections.
- Political views
Tsai Ing-wen is the current President of the Republic of China (Taiwan). She is the first woman to be elected to the office, and previously served as the Vice President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) from 2008 to 2012. Tsai is a member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and is considered to be a progressive politician.
Tsai’s political views are largely shaped by her experience as a Taiwanese politician and diplomat. She is a strong advocate for democracy and human rights, and has been critical of the Chinese government’s treatment of political dissidents and human rights activists. Tsai is also a strong proponent of Taiwan’s independence, and has advocated for a more assertive Taiwanese foreign policy.
- Personal life
Tsai Ing-wen is the current President of Taiwan. She is married to Desmond Tsai and has two daughters.
Tsai Ing-wen was born in Taipei, Taiwan on August 31, 1956. Her parents were both academics. She grew up in a middle-class family and was educated in Taiwan and the United States. TsaiIng-wen has a BA from National Taiwan University and a PhD from London School of Economics.
Tsai Ing-wen is married to Desmond Tsai, a businessman. They have two daughters.
In her spare time, Tsai Ing-wen enjoys reading, playing the piano, and gardening.
- Awards and recognition
Tsai Ing-wen has received numerous awards and recognition for her work as a politician and public servant. In 2011, she was named one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World” by Time magazine. In 2016, she was ranked the 46th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes. She has also been recognized by Newsweek as one of the “25 Most Powerful Women in Asia” and by Foreign Policy as one of the “Top 100 Global Thinkers”.
References
-“Profile: Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen”. BBC News.
-Tsai Ing-wen. Wikipedia.
-Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen in her own words. Al Jazeera.
-Who is Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen? CNN.
-“The Woman Who Could Topple China”. Politico.