Lai Chin-lin

Lai earned a bachelor's degree in political science from National Taiwan University,[1][2] where he met Liu Yi-te and Lee Wen-chung. The trio advocated for direct elections for student body president and the end of censorship in school publications, forming a student association that was later suspended by administrators. After graduating from NTU, Lai contributed to the labor and tangwai movements.[3]

In interviews, Lin credited the end of official relations between Taiwan and the United States and the Kaohsiung Incident, both of which occurred in 1979, for increasing his interest in politics.[3][4] Lee was elected to the National Assembly twice in 1991 and 1996, representing the Democratic Progressive Party. He subsequently ran for a seat on the Legislative Yuan in 1998, and won.[3] During his first term on the Legislative Yuan, Lai took an active role in proposing relief measures following the 1999 Jiji earthquake,[5] and called for attention to the mental health of earthquake survivors.[6] While serving on the Legislative Yuan, Lai was also president of the Taiwan Children's Rights Association.[7][8] As a lawmaker and president of the association, he pushed the Executive Yuan to report on children's rights, child abuse, and child welfare.[9][10][11]

Lai frequently supported a range of environmental causes,[12][13] and was known for his opposition to nuclear energy.[14][15] Lai often spoke out against the Longmen Nuclear Power Plant project.[16][17][18] In 2000, Lai co-authored a report advising against the use of nuclear energy,[19][20] and, later that year, discussed with American scientists the risks of nuclear technology.[21][22]

Lai was nominated for a second term on the Legislative Yuan in 2001, and won reelection as a DPP candidate.[23][24] In 2002, Lai co-founded the Taiwan Renewable Energy Industry Promotion Association to advocate for use and research into sources of renewable energy.[25] During Lai's second term, Lai helped write the Mass Layoff Protection Law.[26][27] He also supported stronger ties between Liberia and Taiwan.[28][29] Lai ended his 2004 legislative campaign during the party primary stage,[30] and in June was named vice minister of the Council of Labor Affairs,[31] where he served through the end of 2005.[32]