Wu Den-yih

Wu Den-yih
吳敦義
Vice President of the Republic of China
In office 20 May 2012 – 20 May 2016
President	Ma Ying-jeou
Preceded by	Vincent Siew
Succeeded by	Chen Chien-jen
Chairman of the Kuomintang Acting
In office 3 December 2014 – 19 January 2015
Preceded by	Ma Ying-jeou
Succeeded by	Eric Chu
First Vice Chairman of the Kuomintang
In office 4 June 2014 – 1 December 2014
Leader	Ma Ying-jeou
Preceded by	Tseng Yung-chuan (Secretary-General)
Succeeded by	TBD
Premier of the Republic of China
In office 10 September 2009 – 6 February 2012
President	Ma Ying-jeou
Deputy	Eric Chu Sean Chen
Preceded by	Liu Chao-shiuan
Succeeded by	Sean Chen
Secretary-General of the Kuomintang
In office 27 February 2007 – 17 October 2009
Deputy	Liao Feng-teh
Preceded by	Chan Chun-po
Succeeded by	Chan Chun-po
Mayor of Kaohsiung
In office 15 June 1990 – 20 December 1998
Deputy	Lin Join-sane
Preceded by	Su Nan-cheng
Succeeded by	Frank Hsieh
Magistrate of Nantou
In office 1981–1989
Preceded by	Meng Fan-chao (Acting)
Succeeded by	Lin Yuan-lang
Personal details
Born	30 January 1948 Caotun, Nantou, Taiwan
Political party	Kuomintang
Spouse(s)	Tsai Ling-yi
Children	Tzu-an
Alma mater	National Taiwan University
Signature
Website	Government website

Wu Den-yih (traditional Chinese: 吳敦義; simplified Chinese: 吴敦义; pinyin: Wú Dūnyì; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Gô͘ Tun-gī; born January 30, 1948) is a Taiwanese politician and former Vice President of the Republic of China. Wu was the running mate of President Ma Ying-jeou and was elected Vice President in the 2012 presidential election with 51.5% of the vote.^[1] Wu served as Premier from 2009 until 2012, First Vice Chairman of Kuomintang (KMT) in 2014 and acting Chairman (KMT) in 2014-2015.

Early life

Wu was born in Tsaotun, Nantou County, Taiwan in 1948. He enrolled in National Taiwan University and majored in history. During university time, he served as president and editor-in-chief for University News (大學新聞) student periodical in 1968-1969. One of his essay he wrote for the student periodical had prompted future ROC President Chiang Ching-kuo to urge him to serve the people and the nation. He graduated with his BA degree in 1970. Upon graduation, he served his conscription.

Early career

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

Political career

In 1973 at the age of 25, he was appointed to a position in the Taipei City Council, 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.

Nantou County Magistrate

After serving Taipei City Council, Wu returned to his home in Nantou County where he made a successful campaign for the Magistrate of Nantou County. He served the magistrate position from 1981 to 1989.^[3]

Kaohsiung Mayoralty

Wu Den-yih was the appointed mayor of Kaohsiung City between 1990 and 1994, and he served as the mayor again from 1994 to 1998 by direct election. He was defeated by Frank Hsieh in the mayoral election in 1998.

KMT Secretary-General

While serving as the member of Legislative Yuan since 2002, Wu was appointed as the secretary-general of Kuomintang from February 2007 to September 2009.

2009 China visit

In May 2009, Wu left for China for an 8-day visit. He was accompanied by three KMT high officials, 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 Chairman 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 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 due to the 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 Wu would be his vice presidential candidate in the 2012 presidential election due to the choice of incumbent Vice President Vincent Siew not to run for re-election.^[6] Wu and Ma Ying-jeou won the 2012 presidential election on 14 January 2012, which makes Wu the Vice President-elect of the ROC. He takes the office on 20 May 2012.

 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 Chia-chyuan	6,093,578	45.63%
	People First Party	James Soong	Lin Ruey-shiung	369,588	2.77%
Total				13,354,305	100%

2012 Boao Forum for Asia

On 1–2 April 2012,^[7] 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.^[8] In the forum, Wu met with PRC Vice Premier Li Keqiang in which both of them agreed to address various of cross-strait issues.^[9][10] 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.^[11]

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 on August 2012 to jointly explore and develop the resources in the sea area because this continuing dispute hinder the development of the sea resources.^[12]

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.^[13]

Personal life

Wu and wife Tsai Ling-yi.

Wu is married to Tsai Ling-yi. They have three sons and one daughter.^[14]

See also

• Vice President of the Republic of China
• Republic of China presidential election, 2012
• Presidential Office Building, Taipei

References

1. Jacobs, Andrew (14 January 2012). "Incumbent Ma Re-Elected as Taiwan's President". New York Times.
2.   (1948-01-30). "Wu Den-yih | Who's Who Profile". Africa Confidential. 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. http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aALL&ID=201106190003
7. 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.
8. "Opposition slams Wu Den-yih over 'China's Taiwan'". Taipei Times. 2014-05-22. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
9. "Wu Den-yih meets with Li Keqiang at Boao Forum". Taipei Times. 2014-05-22. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
10. F_404 (2012-04-01). "Vice premier meets Taiwan delegation in Hainan - People's Daily Online". English.peopledaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
11. "Taiwan Vice President Wu in Haikou, promises supports for mainland firms - What's On Sanya". Whatsonsanya.com. 2012-04-04. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
12. "VP urges peaceful solution to Philippine dispute". The China Post. 2013-05-14. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
13. "Ex-VP calls on China 'not to widen distance' with Taiwanese - Cross-Strait Affairs - FOCUS TAIWAN - CNA ENGLISH NEWS".
14.  . "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.