Democratic Progressive Party (Taiwan)
민주진보당 (타이완)
A party founded on 28 September 1986 in Taiwan, still under martial law, by opposition (dangwai) activists who challenged Kuomintang one-party rule. It stood for human rights, democratisation and Taiwanese nationalism and identity, and became one of Taiwan's two major parties alongside the Kuomintang. Its candidates won the presidency with Chen Shui-bian in 2000, Tsai Ing-wen in 2016 and Lai Ching-te in 2024.
In depth
Founding and legalisation
The Democratic Progressive Party was founded in 1986, a year before martial law ended, by dangwai activists including Hsu Hsin-liang, Frank Hsieh and Lin Shui-chuan. It emerged as a human-rights opposition while the Kuomintang ruled as a one-party state and carried out the White Terror.
Line
Its platform is pro-independence, but in government it keeps the status quo, holding that Taiwan is already a sovereign country under the name "Republic of China" and not subordinate to the People's Republic of China. The PRC government treats it as the main force obstructing reunification.
In power
Chen Shui-bian won the presidency in 2000, the first president from outside the Kuomintang; Tsai Ing-wen followed in 2016 and Lai Ching-te in 2024.