Yao Chia-wen
Encyclopedia
Yao Chia-wen a Taiwanese
politician, is a former President of the Examination Yuan
of the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan). He was the second chairperson of the Democratic Progressive Party
(DPP).
, Changhua County
, Yao has eleven younger siblings. In 1957, He started working as a clerk in the Bureau of Telecommunications, which is now the Chunghwa Telecom
. Yao studied law at the National Taiwan University
in Taipei
. He passed the bar exam in 1966 and got his master's degree
in law two years later.
Yao co-founded the "Legal Advice Center for Citizens" in 1972 after attending the University of California at Berkeley as a visiting scholar
. In 1975, he served as a defense lawyer of Kuo Yu-hsin, an important figure in the Tangwai
movement, along with Lin Yi-hsiung
.
Yao is married to Chou Ching-yu, who is a former magistrate of Changhua County
.
in his book Maintaining and Amending the Law published in 1978. In 1979, Yao was arrested and sentenced to a 12-year prison for his involvement in the Kaohsiung Incident
. He served in prison for seven years and became the chairperson of the Democratic Progressive Party
after he was released. Under his chairmanship, the party adopted the "Program for the Sovereign Independence of Taiwan" . In 1992, Yao joined the "Welfare State Alliance" faction of the DPP founded by Frank Hsieh
. He was elected a member of the Legislative Yuan
the same year, but was not re-elected in 1995.
In 1997, Yao started teaching at National Tsing Hua University
as an associate professor. He worked as a lawyer again in 1999, as he ran unsuccessfully for legislator again in 1998. President
Chen Shui-bian
appointed Yao as one of his Senior Advisor
s in 2000. Five years later, he was appointed as the President of the Examination Yuan
.
Yao was replaced by the Ma Ying-Jeou government in 2008 after Chen Shui-bian's administration expired.
, which is associated with the Tangwai
movement. In 2006, he wrote a book that examines treaties that have strongly influenced the Taiwanese history
with a goal to "set the facts straight" as the history of Taiwan is controversial.
Taiwanese people
Taiwanese people may refer to individuals who either claim or are imputed cultural identity focused on the island of Taiwan and/or Taiwan Area which have been governed by the Republic of China since 1945...
politician, is a former President of the Examination Yuan
Examination Yuan
The Examination Yuan is in charge of validating the qualification of civil servants in the Republic of China . It is one of the five government branches of the ROC government...
of the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan). He was the second chairperson 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).
Early life
Born in HemeiHemei, Changhua
Hemei is an urban township in northwestern Changhua County, Taiwan. It is bordered by the Dadu River to the north, Shengang and Siansi to the west, Lugang and Sioushuei to the south, and Changhua City to the east.* Area: 39.93 km²...
, Changhua County
Changhua County
Changhua County is the smallest county in Taiwan located on the westside of Taiwan. It is officially governed as a county of the Republic of China .-Urban townships:# Beidou Township # Erlin Township...
, Yao has eleven younger siblings. In 1957, He started working as a clerk in the Bureau of Telecommunications, which is now the Chunghwa Telecom
Chunghwa Telecom
Chunghwa Telecom is the largest telecommunications company in Taiwan. It has its headquarters in Zhongzheng District, Taipei on the remains of the old Taipei Prison.- History :...
. Yao studied law at the National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University is a national co-educational university located in Taipei, Republic of China . In Taiwan, it is colloquially known as "Táidà" . Its main campus is set upon 1,086,167 square meters in Taipei's Da'an District. In addition, the university has 6 other campuses in Taiwan,...
in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
. He passed the bar exam in 1966 and got his master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in law two years later.
Yao co-founded the "Legal Advice Center for Citizens" in 1972 after attending the University of California at Berkeley as a visiting scholar
Visiting scholar
In the world of academia, a visiting scholar or visiting academic is a scholar from an institution who visits a host university, where he or she is projected to teach , lecture , or perform research on a topic the visitor is valued for...
. In 1975, he served as a defense lawyer of Kuo Yu-hsin, an important figure in the Tangwai
Tangwai
The Tangwai movement was a political movement in the Republic of China in the mid-1970s and early 1980s. Although the Kuomintang had allowed contested elections for a small number of seats in Legislative Yuan, opposition parties were still forbidden...
movement, along with Lin Yi-hsiung
Lin Yi-hsiung
Lin Yi-hsiung who sued the ruling KMT party for electoral fraud. Lin was elected a member of Taiwan Provincial Assembly in Guo's old electorate in 1977.-Lin Family Massacre:...
.
Yao is married to Chou Ching-yu, who is a former magistrate of Changhua County
Changhua County
Changhua County is the smallest county in Taiwan located on the westside of Taiwan. It is officially governed as a county of the Republic of China .-Urban townships:# Beidou Township # Erlin Township...
.
Entry into politics
Yao called for the abolition of the National AssemblyNational Assembly of the Republic of China
The National Assembly of the Republic of China refers to several parliamentary bodies that existed in the Republic of China. The National Assembly was originally founded in 1913 as the first legislature in Chinese history, but was disbanded less than a year later as President Yuan Shikai assumed...
in his book Maintaining and Amending the Law published in 1978. In 1979, Yao was arrested and sentenced to a 12-year prison for his involvement in the Kaohsiung Incident
Kaohsiung Incident
The Kaohsiung Incident also known as the Formosa Incident, the Meilidao Incident or the Formosa Magazine incident was the result of pro-democracy demonstrations that occurred in Kaohsiung, Taiwan on December 10, 1979....
. He served in prison for seven years and became the chairperson 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,...
after he was released. Under his chairmanship, the party adopted the "Program for the Sovereign Independence of Taiwan" . In 1992, Yao joined the "Welfare State Alliance" faction of the DPP founded by Frank Hsieh
Frank Hsieh
Frank Hsieh Chang-ting is a Taiwanese politician of the Democratic Progressive Party in the Republic of China. He was the mayor of Kaohsiung City until his appointment as President of the Executive Yuan by president Chen Shui-bian on February 1, 2005. He announced his resignation from the post of...
. He was elected a member of the Legislative Yuan
Legislative Yuan
The Legislative Yuan is the unicameral legislature of the Republic of China .The Legislative Yuan is one of the five branches of government stipulated by the Constitution of the Republic of China, which follows Sun Yat-sen's Three Principles of the People...
the same year, but was not re-elected in 1995.
In 1997, Yao started teaching at National Tsing Hua University
National Tsing Hua University
National Tsing Hua University is one of the most prestigious universities in Taiwan. The university has a strong reputation in the studies of science and engineering. Times Higher Education - World University Rankings is107in the world. Engineering and Science are the best in Taiwan...
as an associate professor. He worked as a lawyer again in 1999, as he ran unsuccessfully for legislator again in 1998. President
President of the Republic of China
The President of the Republic of China is the head of state and commander-in-chief of the Republic of China . The Republic of China was founded on January 1, 1912, to govern all of China...
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...
appointed Yao as one of his Senior Advisor
Senior Advisor
In some countries, a Senior Advisor is an appointed position by the Head of State to advise on the highest levels of national and government policy. Sometimes a junior position to this is called a National Policy Advisor...
s in 2000. Five years later, he was appointed as the President of the Examination Yuan
Examination Yuan
The Examination Yuan is in charge of validating the qualification of civil servants in the Republic of China . It is one of the five government branches of the ROC government...
.
Yao was replaced by the Ma Ying-Jeou government in 2008 after Chen Shui-bian's administration expired.
Political ideology
Yao supports the Taiwan independence movement. He was an editor of the Formosa MagazineFormosa Magazine
Formosa Magazine was a magazine created by Tangwai individuals in Taiwan during the summer of 1979. It opposed the Kuomintang's political monopoly in the Republic of China government...
, which is associated with the Tangwai
Tangwai
The Tangwai movement was a political movement in the Republic of China in the mid-1970s and early 1980s. Although the Kuomintang had allowed contested elections for a small number of seats in Legislative Yuan, opposition parties were still forbidden...
movement. In 2006, he wrote a book that examines treaties that have strongly influenced the Taiwanese history
History of Taiwan
Taiwan was first populated by Negrito, and then Austronesian people. It was colonized by the Dutch in the 17th century, followed by an influx of Han Chinese including Hakka immigrants from areas of Fujian and Guangdong of mainland China, across the Taiwan Strait...
with a goal to "set the facts straight" as the history of Taiwan is controversial.