Pan-Green Coalition
Encyclopedia
The Pan-Green Coalition or Pan-Green Camp, is an informal political alliance of the Republic of China
, commonly known as "Taiwan", consisting of the Democratic Progressive Party
(DPP), Taiwan Solidarity Union
(TSU), and the minor Taiwan Independence Party
(TAIP). The name comes from the colours of the Democratic Progressive Party
, which originally adopted green in part because of its association with the environmental movement
. In contrast to the Pan-Blue Coalition
, the Pan-Green Coalition favors Taiwan independence
over Chinese reunification
, although members in both coalitions have moderated their policies to reach voters in the center.
This strategy is helped by the fact that much of the motivation that voters have for voting for one party or the other are for reasons that have nothing to do with relations with mainland China
. This is particularly true among swing voters. For much of the 1990s the parties which later formed the Pan-Green Coalition greatly benefited from the perception that they were less corrupt than the ruling Kuomintang
(KMT) . However, due to the controversies and the alleged corruption cases involving the former DPP nominated President Chen Shui-bian
, the public perception of the Coalition is seemed to have been altered somewhat.
The Pan-Green Coalition formed in the aftermath of the 2000 ROC Presidential election, after which Lee Teng-hui
was expelled from the Kuomintang
and created his own party, the Taiwan Solidarity Union
, which maintains a pro-independence platform.
The internal dynamics of the Pan-Green Coalition are different from those of the Pan-Blue coalition. Unlike the Pan-Blue coalition, which consists of relatively equal-sized parties with very similar ideologies, the pan-green coalition contains the DPP, which is much larger and more moderate than the TSU. So rather than coordinating electoral strategies, as in the case of the parties within the Pan-Blue coalition, the presence of the TSU keeps the DPP from moving too far away from its Taiwan independence
roots. In local elections competition tends to be fierce between Pan-Green candidates from different parties and, as a rule, joint candidates are not proposed.
The Green Party Taiwan
is not part of the Pan-Green Coalition.
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
, commonly known as "Taiwan", consisting of the Democratic Progressive Party
Democratic Progressive Party
The Democratic Progressive Party is a political party in Taiwan, and the dominant party in the Pan-Green Coalition. Founded in 1986, DPP is the first meaningful opposition party in Taiwan. It has traditionally been associated with strong advocacy of human rights and a distinct Taiwanese identity,...
(DPP), Taiwan Solidarity Union
Taiwan Solidarity Union
The Taiwan Solidarity Union is a political party in the Republic of China which advocates Taiwan independence. It was officially founded on July 24, 2001 and is considered part of the Pan-Green Coalition. Unlike the Democratic Progressive Party, its larger companion party in the Pan-Green...
(TSU), and the minor Taiwan Independence Party
Taiwan Independence Party
The Taiwan Independence Party 建國黨 , otherwise known as the Taiwan Nation Party, is a political party in the Republic of China .It is usually associated with the Pan-Green Coalition and supports Taiwan independence....
(TAIP). The name comes from the colours of the Democratic Progressive Party
Democratic Progressive Party
The Democratic Progressive Party is a political party in Taiwan, and the dominant party in the Pan-Green Coalition. Founded in 1986, DPP is the first meaningful opposition party in Taiwan. It has traditionally been associated with strong advocacy of human rights and a distinct Taiwanese identity,...
, which originally adopted green in part because of its association with the environmental movement
Environmental movement
The environmental movement, a term that includes the conservation and green politics, is a diverse scientific, social, and political movement for addressing environmental issues....
. In contrast to the Pan-Blue Coalition
Pan-Blue Coalition
The Pan-Blue Coalition 泛藍聯盟 or Pan-Blue Force is a political alliance in the Republic of China , consisting of the Kuomintang , the People First Party , and the New Party . The name comes from the party colours of the Kuomintang...
, the Pan-Green Coalition favors Taiwan independence
Taiwan independence
Taiwan independence is a political movement whose goals are primarily to formally establish the Republic of Taiwan by renaming or replacing the Republic of China , form a Taiwanese national identity, reject unification and One country, two systems with the People's Republic of China and a Chinese...
over Chinese reunification
Chinese reunification
Chinese reunification refers to the bringing together of all of the territories controlled by the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China under a single political entity...
, although members in both coalitions have moderated their policies to reach voters in the center.
This strategy is helped by the fact that much of the motivation that voters have for voting for one party or the other are for reasons that have nothing to do with relations with mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
. This is particularly true among swing voters. For much of the 1990s the parties which later formed the Pan-Green Coalition greatly benefited from the perception that they were less corrupt than the ruling Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
(KMT) . However, due to the controversies and the alleged corruption cases involving the former DPP nominated President Chen Shui-bian
Chen Shui-bian
Chen Shui-bian is a former Taiwanese politician who was the 10th and 11th-term President of the Republic of China from 2000 to 2008. Chen, whose Democratic Progressive Party has traditionally been supportive of Taiwan independence, ended more than fifty years of Kuomintang rule in Taiwan...
, the public perception of the Coalition is seemed to have been altered somewhat.
The Pan-Green Coalition formed in the aftermath of the 2000 ROC Presidential election, after which Lee Teng-hui
Lee Teng-hui
Lee Teng-hui is a politician of the Republic of China . He was the 7th, 8th, and 9th-term President of the Republic of China and Chairman of the Kuomintang from 1988 to 2000. He presided over major advancements in democratic reforms including his own re-election which marked the first direct...
was expelled from the Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
and created his own party, the Taiwan Solidarity Union
Taiwan Solidarity Union
The Taiwan Solidarity Union is a political party in the Republic of China which advocates Taiwan independence. It was officially founded on July 24, 2001 and is considered part of the Pan-Green Coalition. Unlike the Democratic Progressive Party, its larger companion party in the Pan-Green...
, which maintains a pro-independence platform.
The internal dynamics of the Pan-Green Coalition are different from those of the Pan-Blue coalition. Unlike the Pan-Blue coalition, which consists of relatively equal-sized parties with very similar ideologies, the pan-green coalition contains the DPP, which is much larger and more moderate than the TSU. So rather than coordinating electoral strategies, as in the case of the parties within the Pan-Blue coalition, the presence of the TSU keeps the DPP from moving too far away from its Taiwan independence
Taiwan independence
Taiwan independence is a political movement whose goals are primarily to formally establish the Republic of Taiwan by renaming or replacing the Republic of China , form a Taiwanese national identity, reject unification and One country, two systems with the People's Republic of China and a Chinese...
roots. In local elections competition tends to be fierce between Pan-Green candidates from different parties and, as a rule, joint candidates are not proposed.
The Green Party Taiwan
Green Party Taiwan
The Green Party Taiwan is a political party in Taiwan established on 25 January 1996. The party is not a member of, and should not be confused with, the Pan-Green Coalition. As its name suggests, the Green Party Taiwan focuses on environmental issues...
is not part of the Pan-Green Coalition.
See also
- Politics of the Republic of ChinaPolitics of the Republic of ChinaThe politics of the Republic of China ,takes place in a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President is head of state and the premier is head of government, and of a dominant party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative...
- Pan-Blue CoalitionPan-Blue CoalitionThe Pan-Blue Coalition 泛藍聯盟 or Pan-Blue Force is a political alliance in the Republic of China , consisting of the Kuomintang , the People First Party , and the New Party . The name comes from the party colours of the Kuomintang...
- Pan-Purple CoalitionPan-Purple CoalitionThe Pan-Purple Coalition or the Alliance of Fairness and Justice is a social activist umbrella group based in the Republic of China . The coalition brings together nine social welfare organizations and promotes the causes of the underprivileged...