Lin Cheng-chieh
{{Short description|Taiwanese politician (1952–2025)}}
{{family name hatnote|Lin (林)|lang=Chinese}}
{{distinguish|Lin Cheng-chih}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Lin Cheng-chieh
| native_name = {{nobold|林正杰}}
| native_name_lang = zh-tw
| honorific-suffix = MLY
| image =
| imagesize =
| smallimage =
| caption =
| order =
| constituency =
| term_start =
| term_end =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| order1 = Member of the Legislative Yuan
| constituency1 = Taipei 2
| term_start1 = 1 February 1990
| term_end1 = 31 January 1996
| predecessor1 =
| successor1 =
| order2 = Member of the Taipei City Council
| term_start2 = 25 December 1981
| term_end2 = September 1986
| constituency2 =
| order3 =
| term_start3 =
| term_end3 =
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1952|11|8}}
| birth_place = Yunlin County, Taiwan
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2025|6|3|1952|11|8}}
| death_place = Taitung City, Taiwan
| party = Democratic Progressive Party (1986–1991)
| nationality = Taiwanese
| profession =
| education = Tunghai University (BA)
National Chengchi University (MA)
}}
Lin Cheng-chieh ({{zh|t=林正杰|poj=Lîm Chèng-kia̍t|p=Lín Zhèngjié}}; 8 November 1952 – 3 June 2025) was a Taiwanese politician. A tangwai activist for Taiwan's democratization, he helped found the Democratic Progressive Party. After leaving the DPP in 1991, he began supporting Pan-Blue Coalition political endeavors.
Early life and education
Lin's father Lin Kwun-rung was a Kuomintang spy. The government sent him to China in 1956, where he was jailed until 1980. Following his release, Lin Kwan-rung spent three years at his ancestral home in Fujian until, with the help of his wife, he returned to Taiwan in 1983.{{cite news|last1=Baum|first1=Julian|title=After 27 years in China, Taiwan spy came home to cool reception|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1985/1209/ohome.html|access-date=24 June 2017|work=Christian Science Monitor|date=9 December 1985}} Lin Cheng-chieh studied political science at Tunghai University, and attended graduate school at National Chengchi University.
Political career
Lin was known as one of "three musketeers" of the tangwai movement, alongside Chen Shui-bian and Frank Hsieh.{{cite news|last1=Ko|first1=Shu-ling|title=Hsieh, Chen are friendly rivals|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/01/30/2003221519|access-date=26 February 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=30 January 2005}}{{cite news|last1=Ko|first1=Shu-ling|title=Newsmakers: Hsieh may have to choose between city and party|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2002/01/02/0000118260|access-date=26 February 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=2 January 2002}} He ran as a tangwai candidate and won a seat on the Taipei City Council in 1981.{{cite book|author1-link=J. Bruce Jacobs|last1=Jacobs|first1=J. Bruce|title=Democratizing Taiwan|date=2012|publisher=BRILL|isbn=9789004225909|page=58|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4esyAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA58}} Lin won reelection in 1985. The next year, the defendants involved in the Kaohsiung Incident began serving their prison sentences. Lin was credited with leading a protest calling for democratization, an action that became a catalyst for the establishment of the Democratic Progressive Party, of which Lin was a founding member.{{cite news|last1=Cody|first1=Edward|title=Interview With Chen Shui-bian, President of Taiwan|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/07/AR2007070700929.html|access-date=25 June 2017|newspaper=Washington Post|date=8 July 2007}}{{cite news|last1=Shih|first1=Hsiao-kuang|last2=Huang|first2=Shu-li|last3=Chin|first3=Jonathan|title=Japan Food Imports: KMT to protest Executive Yuan hearings|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/12/12/2003661064|access-date=26 February 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=12 December 2016}} His leadership of this protest earned Lin another nickname, the "street bully."{{cite news |last1=張 |first1=晏慈 |title=民進黨創黨元老癌逝！林正杰兒女發聲了 |url=https://news.tvbs.com.tw/politics/2890677 |access-date=20 June 2025 |publisher=TVBS |date=3 June 2025 |language=zh}} Months after the protest, Lin was stripped of his office upon being imprisoned in September on charges of libel.{{cite news|last1=Mann|first1=Jim|title=Taiwan's Nationalists Face Dramatic Political Changes|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-12-03-mn-457-story.html|access-date=24 June 2017|work=Los Angeles Times|date=3 December 1986}}{{cite book|last1=Chiou|first1=C.|title=Democratizing Oriental Despotism: China from 4 May 1919 to 4 June 1989 and Taiwan from 28 February 1947 to 28 June 1990|date=1995|publisher=Springer|isbn=9780230389687|page=100|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=--B8DAAAQBAJ&pg=PA100}} Lin accused Hu Yi-shou of financial impropriety. Alongside libel charges, Hu filed a second lawsuit against Lin, claiming that Lin had violated election law in his 1985 campaign.{{cite journal|title=Sentence of Progress publisher sparks demonstrations|journal=Taiwan Communiqué|date=October 1986|volume=27|pages=20–22|url=http://www.taiwandc.org/twcom/tc27-int.pdf|access-date=6 April 2018}} In February 1987, Lin's sentence was extended by eight months.{{cite journal|last1=Cohen|first1=Marc J.|title=Current Political Cases|journal=Taiwan Communiqué|date=May 1987|volume=30|url=http://www.taiwandc.org/twcom/tc30-int.pdf|access-date=6 April 2018}} Within the DPP, he led the Progress faction, a collective opposed to Taiwan independence.{{cite conference|author1-link=Shelley Rigger|last1=Rigger|first1=Shelley|title=The Evolution of the DPP and KMT's Policies of the National Identity Issue |date=February 1999 |conference=Conference on War and Peace in the Taiwan Strait, Duke University, 26-27 February 1999 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228435251 }} Lin left the DPP in June 1991,{{cite book|last1=Banks|first1=Arthur S.|last2=Day|first2=Alan J.|last3=Muller|first3=Thomas C.|title=Political Handbook of the World 1998|date=1998|publisher=Springer|page=193|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D6mFCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA193|isbn=9781349149513}} shortly after Fei Hsi-ping and Ju Gau-jeng, leading the party to radicalize and openly support Taiwan independence.{{cite book|editor-last1=Tsang|editor-first1=Steve|editor-last2=Tien|editor-first2=Hung-Mao|editor-link2=Tien Hung-mao|title=Democratisation in Taiwan: Implications for China|date=1999|publisher=Springer|isbn=9781349272792|page=71|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=feywCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA71}}{{cite book|author1-link=Dafydd Fell|last1=Fell|first1=Dafydd|title=Party Politics in Taiwan|date=2006|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781134240203|page=90|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3rt-AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA90}} After leaving the DPP, Lin told Alan M. Wachman in July 1991 that "[I]t is not necessarily the case that those who identify themselves as Taiwanese support Taiwan independence... I know a lot of socialists who support reunification. But they speak Taiwanese. They are not willing to speak Mandarin."{{cite book|last1=Wachman|first1=Alan|author-link1= Alan M. Wachman|title=Taiwan: National Identity and Democratization|date=1994|publisher=M. E. Sharpe|isbn=9781563243981|page=118|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RVCOEWoiecAC&pg=PA118}} Lin, who had been elected to the Legislative Yuan in 1989 under the DPP banner,{{cite news |title=December Election Victory for DPP |url=http://www.taiwandc.org/twcom/tc43-int.pdf |access-date=29 August 2021 |work=Taiwan Communiqué |issue=43 |issn=1027-3999}}{{cite news|last1=Chen|first1=Kathy|title=A doctor gives up parking his Mercedes-Benz near his...|url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/07/22/A-doctor-gives-up-parking-his-Mercedes-Benz-near-his/1055648619200/|access-date=26 February 2017|work=United Press International|date=22 July 1990}} served most of his first term and all of his second term as an independent, stepping down in 1996. In September 1993 Lin founded the New Parliament Magazine, a newsletter-like publication with a Pan-Blue editorial line.{{cite news|last1=Wang|first1=Fei-Yun|title=Political Mirrors|url=http://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=4,8,29,31,32,45&post=4544|access-date=26 February 2017|work=Taiwan Today|date=1 October 1994}} In 1994, Lin began a hunger strike as part of a larger protest in support of retaining a statue of Guanyin on the grounds of Daan Forest Park.{{cite news |author1=Han Cheung |title=Taiwan in Time: Religious strife in Daan Forest Park |url=https://taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2022/03/27/2003775519 |access-date=26 March 2022 |work=Taipei Times}} Despite having left the Democratic Progressive Party, Lin served as deputy mayor of Hsinchu under fellow DPP founder James Tsai.{{cite news|last1=Huang|first1=Joyce|title=DPP wrangles over Hsinchu mayor|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2001/01/04/0000068345|access-date=26 February 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=4 January 2001}} Lin later became the chairman of the Chinese Unity Promotion Party.{{cite news|last1=Chang|first1=Rich|title=Police under fire over scuffling|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2006/09/18/2003328143|access-date=26 February 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=18 September 2006}}
In August 2006, Lin slapped and kicked {{ill|Chin Heng-wei|zh|金恆煒}}, editor of the magazine Contemporary Monthly, during a joint appearance on Formosa TV.{{cite news|last1=Lu|first1=Chia-ying|title=Lin indicted for hitting commentator|url=http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/243859|access-date=26 February 2017|work=Taiwan News|date=4 October 2006}}{{cite news|last1=Ko|first1=Shu-ling|title=FEATURE: Assault on Chen highlights vulnerability|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/07/29/2003418830|access-date=26 February 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=29 July 2008}} He was widely criticized by Pan-Blue and Pan-Green political leaders.{{cite news|last1=Shih|first1=Hsiu-chuan|last2=Mo|first2=Yan-chih|first3=Jimmy|last3=Chuang|title=Politicians condemn talk show fight|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2006/08/26/2003324855|access-date=26 February 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=26 August 2006}} The Million Voices Against Corruption, President Chen Must Go campaign, a movement he had supported, forbid Lin from participating in a sit-in protest against Chen Shui-bian.{{cite news|title=Anti-Chen group bars TV tussler|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2006/08/26/2003324886|access-date=26 February 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=26 August 2006}} However, Lin was permitted to attend a protest outside the Presidential Office led by the group in September.{{cite news|last1=Mo|first1=Yan-chih|title=Tens of thousands join protest 'siege'|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2006/09/16/2003327826|access-date=26 February 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=16 September 2006}} The Taipei District Prosecutors' Office charged Lin with inflicting bodily harm on Chin Heng-wei in October 2006,{{cite news|title=Lin charged over attack|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2006/10/04/2003330452|access-date=26 February 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=4 October 2006}} and Lin was eventually sentenced to a 50-day prison term.{{cite news|last1=Chang|first1=Rich|title=KMT Legislator Hung Hsiu-chu indicted for slander|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/02/17/2003349381|access-date=26 February 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=17 February 2007}} In August 2007, Lin and others were indicted for their actions during the Presidential Office protest.{{cite news|last1=Chang|first1=Rich|title=Shih, 15 others indicted over Oct. 10 'siege'|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/08/04/2003372651|access-date=26 February 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=4 August 2007}}{{cite news|last1=Wang|first1=Flora|title=Shih says he's willing to do jail time|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/10/16/2003383348|access-date=26 February 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=16 October 2007}} Despite the indictment, Lin continued small protests against Chen by founding the Nine Nine Association.{{cite news|last1=Mo|first1=Yan-chih|title='Red army' marks anniversary of protests|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/09/10/2003378058|access-date=26 February 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=10 September 2007}} In December, he led a gathering of thirty people to protest the renaming of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.{{cite news|last1=Loa|first1=Iok-sin|last2=Wang|first2=Flora|last3=Ko|first3=Shu-ling|title=Cameraman injured at memorial clash|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2007/12/07/2003391439|access-date=26 February 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=7 December 2007}} When Chen stepped down from the presidency in 2008, Lin petitioned Chen's successor, Ma Ying-jeou, to bring corruption charges against Chen.{{cite news|last1=Mo|first1=Yan-chih|title=Nation celebrates amid tight security|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/10/11/2003425553|access-date=26 February 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=11 October 2008}}
In the 2012 legislative election cycle, Lin ran as an independent candidate in Taitung.{{cite news |title=拜託加拜年 林正杰寧靜革命 |url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/local/paper/554176 |access-date=7 June 2025 |work=Liberty Times |date=14 January 2012 |language=zh}} During the 2016 presidential election, Lin supported Hung Hsiu-chu's campaign.{{cite news|last1=Hsiao|first1=Alison|title=Hung says she 'will not back down'|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/10/11/2003629784|access-date=26 February 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=11 October 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Hsiao|first1=Alison|title=Presidential Election: KMT's replacing of Hung lambasted|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2015/10/18/2003630323|access-date=26 February 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=18 October 2015}} After Terry Gou lost the 2019 Kuomintang presidential primary, Lin left the party.{{cite news |title=郭台銘初選敗退 前立委林正杰宣布退出國民黨 |url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/2853750 |access-date=7 June 2025 |work=Liberty Times |date=15 July 2025 |language=zh}}
Personal life and death
Lin was married to musician T. C. Yang.{{cite news|last1=Chen|first1=David|title=Finding her voice again|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2008/05/26/2003412923/2|access-date=26 February 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=26 May 2008}} He later married Lin Feng-ying. Lin Cheng-chieh died on 3 June 2025, at the Taitung branch of the Mackay Memorial Hospital, aged 72.{{cite news |last1=蔡 |first1=晋宇 |title=民进党创始党员 「街头小霸王」林正杰73岁逝世 |url=https://www.worldjournal.com/wj/story/121475/8782880 |access-date=7 June 2025 |date=3 June 2025 |work=World Journal |language=zh}}{{cite news |title=从创党到反绿 「街头小霸王」林正杰73岁病逝 |url=https://www.worldjournal.com/wj/story/121223/8784381 |access-date=7 June 2025 |work=World Journal |date=4 June 2025 |language=zh}} His family disclosed that Lin had adenocarcinoma of the lung for eight years.{{cite news |last1=蔡 |first1=晉宇 |title=林正杰病逝 家屬訃告曝罹癌8年：願他風骨轉化為力量 |url=https://udn.com/news/story/6656/8783259 |access-date=7 June 2025 |work=United Daily News |date=3 June 2025 |language=zh}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
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Category:Democratic Progressive Party Members of the Legislative Yuan
Category:Taipei Members of the Legislative Yuan
Category:Members of the 2nd Legislative Yuan
Category:Members of the 1st Legislative Yuan in Taiwan
Category:Tunghai University alumni
Category:National Chengchi University alumni
Category:Taiwanese prisoners and detainees
Category:Prisoners and detainees of Taiwan
Category:Taiwanese politicians convicted of crimes
Category:Deputy mayors of Hsinchu
Category:Taipei City Councilors
Category:Taiwanese hunger strikers