Formosa Alliance

The Formosa Alliance (Chinese: 喜樂島聯盟; pinyin: Xǐlè Dǎo Liánméng) is a political coalition founded in Taiwan on 7 April 2018. The organization reformed as a political party on 20 July 2019.

Formosa Alliance
喜樂島聯盟

Xǐlè Dǎo Liánméng
Abbreviation喜樂島聯盟
ChairmanLo Jen-kuei
Secretary-GeneralKuo Bei-hong
Vice chairmanShih Cheng-feng
Founded7 April 2018 (2018-04-07)
HeadquartersTaipei, Taiwan
IdeologyPopulism
Taiwan independence
Taiwanese nationalism
Taiwanization
Colours  Teal
Legislative Yuan
0 / 113
Municipal Mayoralties
0 / 6
City Mayoralties and County Magistracies
0 / 16
Local Councillors
0 / 912
Township Chiefs
0 / 204
Website
https://www.formosaparty.org

Goals

The Formosa Alliance was established on 7 April 2018. Its founding leader was Kuo Bei-hong, at the time also chairman of Formosa Television.[1] Other members included Chen Shui-bian, Huang Kuo-chang, Lee Teng-hui, Yu Shyi-kun, and the Taiwan Solidarity Union, as well as several overseas Taiwanese organizations.[2][3] The organization intended to hold a referendum on independence on 6 April 2019, though this did not occur. Other goals included advocating a change in the island's name from the Republic of China to Taiwan, and to apply for membership in the United Nations.[4][5][6] The alliance's first full meeting was held on 16 June 2018.[7]

In April 2019, the Formosa Alliance announced a split between it and the Democratic Progressive Party, as well as a new color scheme emphasizing turquoise, a representation of the land of Taiwan and the ocean.[8] The alliance rebranded as a political party, and expanded its platform. Alongside support for the independence referendum and admittance to the United Nations, the Formosa Alliance sought to draft a new constitution, introduce a new national anthem, adopt a new flag, and normalize diplomatic relations with other nations.[9] Compared with the Democratic Progressive Party, from which it split, the Formosa Alliance is more socially conservative.[10] On 20 July 2019, the Formosa Alliance was reconstituted as a political party, with Presbyterian Church in Taiwan minister Lo Jen-kuei as its first chairman.[11] Lo named Shih Cheng-feng as the party's deputy chairman.[12] Party officials stated that it would not nominate a candidate to contest the 2020 Taiwan presidential election, but that it would field ten candidates in the concurrent 2020 Taiwan legislative election.[12]

On 10 September 2019, Formosa Alliance executive committee member Ou Chong-jing stated that he would obtain registration forms for the 2020 presidential election from the Central Election Commission.[13] Ou told Taiwan News that the Formosa Alliance had planned to back his legislative campaign in New Taipei, but subsequently announced that a presidential candidate would be named without a primary.[14] Ou then acquired the petition required of independent presidential candidacies, without the party's support,[15] though he stated that he would wait until the deadline to register presidential bids, 17 September 2019, for the Formosa Alliance's decision.[14] On 17 September 2019, Annette Lu announced that she and Peng Pai-hsien, via petition, would form the Formosa Alliance ticket for the presidential election, though Lu remained a member of the Democratic Progressive Party.[16][17] Lu and Peng ended their campaign on 2 November 2019.[18][19]

References

  1. Ihara, Kensaku (9 April 2018). "Pro-independence forces in Taiwan align to push referendum". Nikkei Asian Review. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  2. DeAeth, Duncan (7 April 2018). "Alliance of Taiwanese associations calls for 2019 independence referendum". Taiwan News. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  3. Lee, Hsin-fang; Hsiao, Sherry (7 April 2018). "International groups lend support for independence". Taipei Times. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  4. Chen, Wei-han (1 March 2018). "Group urges independence referendum". Taipei Times. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  5. "The Formosa Alliance to hold founding ceremony tomorrow". Formosa Television. 6 April 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  6. Hioe, Brian (9 April 2018). "Formosa Alliance formed to push for Referendum Act changes". New Bloom Magazine. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  7. Su, Mu-chun; Ko, Lin (16 June 2018). "Alliance holds first meeting, calls for independence referendum". Central News Agency. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  8. Lin, Chia-nan (7 April 2019). "Formosa Alliance to break with DPP". Taipei Times. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  9. DeAeth, Duncan (7 April 2019). "Pro-Taiwan Independence group Formosa Alliance announces split from DPP". Taiwan News. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  10. Aspinwall, Nick (7 September 2019). "Taiwan President Sues Scholars for Alleging Her Doctorate Degree is Fake". The Diplomat. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  11. Hou, Elaine; Lee, Hsin-Yin (20 July 2019). "Pro-independence Formosa Alliance forms political party". Central News Agency. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  12. Lin, Sean (21 July 2019). "Formosa Alliance enters political arena". Taipei Times. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  13. Ko, Lai (10 September 2019). "Formosa Alliance member Ou Chong-jing wants to run for president of Taiwan". Taiwan News. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  14. Strong, Matthew (13 September 2019). "Three contenders pick up registration forms for 2020 Taiwan presidential election". Taiwan News. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  15. Shih, Hsiao-kuang; Huang, Hsin-po; Chin, Jonathan (14 September 2019). "KMT accuses Gou of reneging on promise to the party". Taipei Times. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  16. Yeh, Su-ping; Wen, Kuei-hisang; Huang, Frances (17 September 2019). "Former Vice President Annette Lu enters presidential race". Central News Agency. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  17. Wu, Chun-feng; Yang, Chun-hui; Chung, Jake (18 September 2019). "Ex-vice president Lu to run for president". Taipei Times. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  18. Huang, Rei-hung; Ko, Lin (2 November 2019). "Former Taiwan vice president abandons presidential bid". Central News Agency. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  19. Chen, Yun (3 November 2019). "Annette Lu withdraws presidential bid". Taipei Times. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
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