Cheng Wen-tsan

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Cheng Wen-tsan
鄭文燦
Official portrait, 2023
39th Vice Premier of the Republic of China[a]
Assumed office
31 January 2023
PremierChen Chien-jen
Preceded byShen Jong-chin
1st Mayor of Taoyuan
In office
25 December 2014 – 25 December 2022
DeputyChiu Tai-san
Preceded byPosition established[b]
Succeeded byChang San-cheng
Head of Taoyuan Chapter of the Democratic Progressive Party
In office
25 December 2009 – 5 July 2014
Chairperson
Preceded byChen Chih-mou
Succeeded byChen Lai Su-mei
23rd Minister of the Government Information Office
In office
25 January 2006 – 20 April 2007
Prime MinisterSu Tseng-chang
Preceded byPasuya Yao
Succeeded byYi Rong-zong (acting)
Shieh Jhy-wey
Personal details
Born (1967-07-06) 6 July 1967 (age 56)
Bade, Taoyuan County, Taiwan (now Bade District, Taoyuan City)
Political partyDemocratic Progressive Party
Alma materNational Taiwan University

Cheng Wen-tsan (Chinese: 鄭文燦; pinyin: Zhèng Wéncàn; Wade–Giles: Chêng4 Wên2-tsʻan4; born 6 July 1967) is a Taiwanese politician who is the current Vice Premier of the Republic of China (Taiwan). A member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), he was the first mayor of the newly established Taoyuan special municipality, serving from 2014 to 2022.

Early life and education

Born in present-day Bade District, Taoyuan City, Cheng grew up with 6 siblings and took an after-school job in neighboring Yingge. His father was a civil servant in the Taoyuan government.[1] After attending Taipei Municipal Jianguo High School, Cheng received his bachelor's degree from the Department of Sociology and master's degree from the Graduate Institute of National Development of National Taiwan University (NTU),[2] though his master's degree was later rescinded on plagiarism allegations. During his time at NTU, he was founding president of NTU Student Press (臺大學生報社) and was elected vice president of the student association.[3]

Entry into politics

Cheng played a key role in the Wild Lily student movement in 1990.[4]

In 1998, Cheng was elected into the Taoyuan County legislature at the age of 30,[5] receiving the most votes out of all candidates.

In the early 2000s, Cheng worked for the DPP's Information and Culture Department.[6] From January 2006 to April 2007, he served as minister of the Government Information Office as part of the first cabinet led by Su Tseng-chang.[7] Cheng resigned from the GIO in April 2007, after vice premier Tsai Ing-wen concluded an investigation into Cheng's influence during a sale of shares in a media company.[8]

Cheng joined the 2009 Taoyuan County magistrate election under the DPP banner on 5 December 2009. However, he lost to Kuomintang opponent John Wu.[9]

Mayor of Taoyuan City (2014-2022)

Cheng was elected mayor of Taoyuan City after winning the 2014 mayoral election held on 29 November 2014, defeating incumbent Kuomintang (KMT) magistrate John Wu, to whom Cheng lost in 2009.[10][11] Following the election, Cheng appointed Chiu Tai-san and Wang Ming-teh as deputy mayors of Taoyuan.[12]

In April 2017, Cheng's rib was fractured after he was attacked by protesters outside Legislative Yuan who opposed a pension system reform bill.[13] Cheng did not press charges against the perpetrator citing his belief in democratic politics.[14]

In the 2018 elections, Cheng defeated KMT contender Apollo Chen and three independent candidates to win a second term as mayor of Taoyuan.[15]

In October 2022, New Party city council candidate publicly alleged that Cheng had committed plagiarism or hired a ghostwriter to write his master's thesis at NTU. After an investigation by the university, Cheng's thesis was revoked and master's degree rescinded.[3][16]

Post-mayoralty career

Cheng was elected to chair the Chinese Taipei Football Association in October 2022, following the resignation of Chiou I-jen in August of that year.[17]

In January 2023, Premier Chen Chien-jen appointed Cheng as vice premier as part of his new cabinet.[18]

Notes

  1. ^ Taiwan
  2. ^ John Wu as Magistrate of Taoyuan County

References

  1. ^ Lee, Jung-ping (15 November 2009). "「給阿嬤的壓歲錢」 鄭文燦談貧困中打拚". Liberty Times. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  2. ^ "The New Cabinet". Taiwan Today. 1 March 2006. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  3. ^ a b Lin, Yi (2 December 2022). "鄭文燦丟了台大碩士 學歷剩什麼?答案曝光仍完爆林智堅". China Times. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  4. ^ Cheung, Han (11 March 2018). "Taiwan in Time: Life after the Wild Lily". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  5. ^ Yo, Hao-yu (27 March 2022). "鄭文燦在義光長老教會分享「人生的轉折點」 致力讓桃園成為更好的城市!". Congress News. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  6. ^ Chang, Yun-Ping (29 September 2003). "At 17 years of age, is DPP ship adrift?". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  7. ^ Chuang, Jimmy (27 January 2006). "Premier Su enjoys busy first morning in his new office". Taipei Times. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  8. ^ Chuang, Jimmy (4 April 2007). "Premier accepts resignation of GIO minister". Taipei Times. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  9. ^ 邱俊欽 (5 December 2009). "吳志揚贏得不輕鬆 桃園藍綠板塊拉近". Taiwan News (in Chinese). Central News Agency. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  10. ^ "DPP's Cheng Wen-tsan scores upset victory in Taoyuan election". focustaiwan.tw.
  11. ^ Shan, Shelley Shan (30 November 2014). "2014 ELECTIONS: KMT's John Wu loses Taoyuan re-election bid". Taipei Times. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  12. ^ Lo, Chi-hao James (16 December 2014). "DPP mayors-elect finalize early cabinet list". China Post. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  13. ^ Wen, Kui-hsiang; Chang, S.C. (24 April 2017). "Taoyuan mayor gets broken ribs during April 19 legislative melee". Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  14. ^ Shih, Hsiao-kuang (26 April 2017). "Taoyuan Mayor says no charges for protesters". Taipei Times. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  15. ^ Shan, Shelley (25 November 2018). "2018 ELECTIONS: Taoyuan Mayor Cheng defeats four challengers". Taipei Times. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  16. ^ Lu, Hsin-chih (2 December 2022). "確定了!鄭文燦論文抄襲遭撤學位 台大證實:已函報教育部". TVBS. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  17. ^ Pan, Jason (9 October 2022). "Taoyuan mayor becomes CTFA head". Taipei Times. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  18. ^ Wen, Kuai-hsiang (25 January 2023). "陳建仁組閣 鄭文燦內定副院長 林右昌掌內政部". CNA. Retrieved 24 November 2023.

External links

Political offices
Preceded byas Magistrate of Taoyuan County Mayor of Taoyuan
2014–2022
Succeeded by
Preceded by Vice Premier of the Republic of China
2023–present
Incumbent