Wu Den-yih

Wu Den-yih (born 30 January 1948) is a Taiwanese politician. He graduated from National Taiwan University and worked as a journalist before beginning a career in politics with a 1973 appointment to the Taipei City Council. Wu was then elected Magistrate of Nantou County, serving from 1981 to 1989. Following two terms as magistrate, he was named Mayor of Kaohsiung in 1990. Wu remained mayor until 1998, having won the office in a 1994 direct election. He then served two full terms in the Legislative Yuan from 2002 to 2008. Shortly after winning a third term in the legislature, Wu was named Premier of the Republic of China in 2009. He served until 2012, when he and Ma Ying-jeou formed the Kuomintang (KMT) presidential ticket. Wu served one four-year term as Vice President of the Republic of China, stepping down in 2016. In May 2017, he was elected party chairman. Wu stepped down from the position in January 2020. Previously, Wu had served the KMT as secretary-general from 2007 to 2009, first vice chairman in 2014, and as acting chairman in 2014 and 2015.

Wu Den-yih
吳敦義
Chairman of the Kuomintang
In office
20 August 2017  15 January 2020
Preceded byHung Hsiu-chu
Lin Junq-tzer (Acting)
Succeeded byLin Rong-te (Acting)
Johnny Chiang
In office
3 December 2014  19 January 2015
Acting
Preceded byMa Ying-jeou
Succeeded byEric Chu
Vice President of the Republic of China
In office
20 May 2012  20 May 2016
PresidentMa Ying-jeou
Preceded bySiew Wan-chang
Succeeded byChen Chien-jen
Premier of the Republic of China
In office
10 September 2009  6 February 2012
PresidentMa Ying-jeou
DeputyEric Chu
Sean Chen
Preceded byLiu Chao-shiuan
Succeeded bySean Chen
Secretary-General of the Kuomintang
In office
27 February 2007  17 October 2009
DeputyLiao Feng-teh
LeaderWu Po-hsiung
Preceded byChan Chun-po
Succeeded byChan Chun-po
Member of the Legislative Yuan
In office
1 February 2002  10 September 2009
Succeeded byMa Wen-chun
ConstituencyNantou County
Mayor of Kaohsiung
In office
15 June 1990  20 December 1998
DeputyLin Join-sane
Preceded bySu Nan-cheng
Succeeded byFrank Hsieh
Magistrate of Nantou
In office
20 December 1981  20 December 1989
Preceded byMeng Fan-chao
Succeeded byLin Yuan-lang
Member of the Taipei City Council
In office
25 December 1973  20 December 1981
Personal details
Born (1948-01-30) 30 January 1948
Caotun, Nantou County, Taiwan
Political partyKuomintang
Spouse(s)Tsai Ling-yi
Children1
Alma materNational Taiwan University
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese
Simplified Chinese

Early life

Wu was born in Caotun, Taichung, Taiwan in 1948. He attended National Taiwan University, where he was president and editor-in-chief of the University News (大學新聞) student periodical in from 1968 to 1969. One of the essays Wu wrote for the publication prompted Chiang Ching-kuo to support Wu's entry into politics. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1970. Upon graduation, he was conscripted into the military.

Early career

Upon completing his compulsory military service in the armed forces, Wu worked as a journalist for the China Times before entering starting his political career. While with the China Times, he was known for his accurate reporting and insightful commentary.

Early political career

In 1973 at the age of 25, he was appointed to a position in the Taipei City Council,[1] serving as the youngest member of the council. While in the office, he was resolute in upholding the view of working with high standard of integrity. For some corrupt officials, he asserted that bending the law is even worse than the corruption itself. He further added that although corruption violates the law, the law nevertheless survives. But if one publicly manipulates the law with impunity, the law dies. Wu worked for the council for eight years.[2][3] During his time in the council, he also still worked as an editorial writer at China Times providing his opinions and thoughts on current political issues.

After serving the Taipei City Council, Wu made a successful campaign for the magistracy of Nantou County. He was elected to two terms, serving from 1981 to 1989.[3]

He was named Mayor of Kaohsiung in 1990. Wu was directly elected to a second term in office, but lost reelection to Frank Hsieh in 1998. In 2001, Wu was elected to the Legislative Yuan for the first time, winning reelection twice thereafter, in 2004 and 2008.

KMT Secretary-General

From 2007 to 2009, Wu was the secretary-general of the Kuomintang.

2009 mainland China visit

In May 2009, Wu left for mainland China for an 8-day visit. He was accompanied by three senior KMT members, Wu Po-hsiung, Lin Fong-cheng and John Chiang. Wang Yi, Director of Taiwan Affairs Office welcomed the delegations upon arrival in Beijing.

The delegations visited several cities. In Beijing, they visited the Guangdong-Guangxi House, where Sun Yat-sen was elected as Chairperson of Kuomintang in 1912. In Hangzhou, they visited the Manao Temple, where a museum of Lian Heng is located. In Nanjing, they visited Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum. And in Chongqing, they attended the Taiwan Week celebration organized by Taiwanese businessmen doing business in mainland China.[4]

ROC Premiership

Premiership appointment

Wu was designated to succeed Liu Chao-shiuan as Premier of the Republic of China on 8 September 2009 by President Ma Ying-jeou. Liu and his Cabinet resigned en masse on 10 September to take responsibility for damage caused by Typhoon Morakot, with Wu succeeding the post the same day.[5] Wu was appointed to the position due to his rich party and administrative experience.[3] Wu spent his first night as Premier in Kaohsiung where he visited the Typhoon Morakot survivors at their temporary shelters in the Republic of China Military Academy in Fengshan District.[3]

2012 ROC Presidential Election

On 19 June 2011, Ma Ying-jeou announced that he and Wu would form the Kuomintang ticket for the 2012 presidential election, as incumbent Vice President Vincent Siew chose not to stand for reelection.[6] Ma and Wu won the election with 51.6% of the vote, and took their respective offices on 20 May 2012.[7]

 Summary of the 2012 Taiwanese presidential election results
Party Candidate Votes Percentage
President Vice president
Kuomintang Ma Ying-jeou Wu Den-yih 6,891,139 51.60%
 
Democratic Progressive Party Tsai Ing-wen Su Jia-chyuan 6,093,578 45.63%
 
People First Party James Soong Lin Ruey-shiung 369,588 2.77%
 
Valid votes 13,354,305 99.27%
Invalid and blank votes 97,711 0.73%
Total votes 13,452,016 100%
Eligible voters and turnout 18,086,455 74.38%

2012 Boao Forum for Asia

On 1–2 April 2012,[8] ROC Vice President-elect Wu, in his capacity as the top advisor of the Cross-Straits Common Market Foundation, attended the 2012 Boao Forum for Asia in Haikou, Hainan. Wu represented Taiwan as "China's Taiwan" during the forum.[9] In the forum, Wu met with PRC Vice Premier Li Keqiang in which both of them agreed to address various of cross-strait issues.[10][11] While touring to a fruit farm during the forum period, Wu said that he will take care of the Chinese companies doing business in Taiwan. He added that he will make every effort in assisting any Chinese people who wish to invest in Taiwan.[12]

ROC Vice Presidency

Vice President Wu at the 85th anniversary of Radio Taiwan International.

Taiwanese fisherman shooting incident

After the shooting incident of Taiwanese fisherman by Philippine government vessel on 9 May 2013 at the disputed water in South China Sea, speaking at a seminar in Longtan, Wu hoped that Taiwan and the Philippines can settle their maritime territorial dispute, and wished that all parties involved can work together to achieve the East China Sea peace initiative proposed by President Ma Ying-jeou in August 2012 to jointly explore and develop the resources in the sea area because this continuing dispute hinder the development of the sea resources.[13]

KMT Chairmanship

On 9 January 2017, Wu announced his candidacy for the 2017 KMT chairmanship election at the National Taiwan University Hospital International Convention Center in an event attended by former and current KMT legislators. He was the third person, after Hau Lung-pin and incumbent chairperson Hung Hsiu-chu, to announce his candidacy for the position.[14] Wu won the election on 20 May, and received a congratulatory letter from Communist Party of China General Secretary Xi Jinping. Wu responded by emphasizing the 1992 Consensus and expressed his intention to create peace across the Taiwan Strait.[15]

2017 Kuomintang chairmanship election
No. Candidate Party Votes Percentage
1Wu Den-yih Kuomintang144,408 52.24%
2Hung Hsiu-chu Kuomintang53,063 19.20%
3Hau Lung-pin Kuomintang44,301 16.03%
4Han Kuo-yu Kuomintang16,141 5.84%
5Steve Chan Kuomintang12,332 4.46%
6Tina Pan Kuomintang2,437 0.88%
Eligible voters 476,147
Total votes 276,423
Valid votes 272,682
Invalid votes 3,741
Turnout 58.05%

Following Han Kuo-yu's loss in the 2020 Taiwanese presidential election, Wu resigned from the Kuomintang chairmanship on 15 January 2020.[16][17]

Cross-strait relations

Speaking in October 2016, Wu said that both sides of the Taiwan Strait should engage in a healthy competition, build its society better and give more contribution for the building up of a strong and prosperous Chinese nation. He said that Mainland China's ambition for reunifying Taiwan under one country, two systems and Taiwan's ambition for independence or unification would destabilize cross-strait relations, stressing that peace is the best choice for both sides of the strait at the moment.[18]

Personal life

Wu is married to Tsai Ling-yi. They have three sons and one daughter.[19]

References

  1. Hsu, Stacy (10 January 2017). "Wu pledges just governance if elected". Taipei Times. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  2. "Wu Den-yih | Who's Who Profile". Africa Confidential. 1948-01-30. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  3. http://taiwanreview.nat.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=70377&CtNode=1337
  4. "KMT chairman Wu Po-hsiung visiting Beijing". The China Post. 2009-05-26. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  5. "Taiwan Premier, Cabinet Resign Over Typhoon Response (Update2)". Bloomberg. 7 September 2009.
  6. Jiang, Alex (19 June 2011). "Ma picks Wu as vice presidential candidate". Central News Agency. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  7. Jacobs, Andrew (14 January 2012). "Incumbent Ma Re-Elected as Taiwan's President". New York Times.
  8. F_404 (2012-03-29). "HK official to attend Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference - People's Daily Online". English.peopledaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  9. "Opposition slams Wu Den-yih over 'China's Taiwan'". Taipei Times. 2014-05-22. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  10. "Wu Den-yih meets with Li Keqiang at Boao Forum". Taipei Times. 2014-05-22. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  11. F_404 (2012-04-01). "Vice premier meets Taiwan delegation in Hainan - People's Daily Online". English.peopledaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  12. "Taiwan Vice President Wu in Haikou, promises supports for mainland firms - What's On Sanya". Whatsonsanya.com. 2012-04-04. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  13. "VP urges peaceful solution to Philippine dispute". The China Post. 2013-05-14. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  14. Lo, James (10 January 2017). "Wu Den-yih announces bid for KMT leadership". The China Post. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  15. Shih, Hsiao-kuang (22 May 2017). "Wu stresses '1992 consensus' in Xi reply". Taipei Times. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  16. Shih, Hsiao-kung (16 January 2020). "2020 Elections: Wu quits over KMT election defeats". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  17. Yu, Hsiang; Yeh, Chen; Chiang, Yi-ching (15 January 2020). "KMT chairman resigns amid heated calls for party reform". Central News Agency. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  18. "Ex-VP calls on China 'not to widen distance' with Taiwanese - Cross-Strait Affairs - FOCUS TAIWAN - CNA ENGLISH NEWS".
  19. "吳敦義 1個後盾 與4個驕傲 - 親子YOU&ME - (已關閉)親子成長 - udn文教職考" (in Chinese). Mag.udn.com. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
Political offices
Preceded by
Meng Fan-chao
Acting
Magistrate of Nantou
1981–1989
Succeeded by
Lin Yuan-lang
Preceded by
Su Nan-cheng
Mayor of Kaohsiung
1990–1998
Succeeded by
Frank Hsieh
Preceded by
Liu Chao-shiuan
Premier of the Republic of China
2009–2012
Succeeded by
Sean Chen
Preceded by
Vincent Siew
Vice President of the Republic of China
2012–2016
Succeeded by
Chen Chien-jen
Party political offices
Preceded by
Chan Chun-po
Secretary-General of the Kuomintang
2007–2009
Succeeded by
Chan Chun-po
Preceded by
Ma Ying-jeou
Chairman of the Kuomintang
Acting

2014–2015
Succeeded by
Eric Chu
Preceded by
Hung Hsiu-chu
Lin Junq-tzer
acting
Chairman of the Kuomintang
2017–2020
Succeeded by
Lin Rong-te
acting
Johnny Chiang
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