Lin Pin-kuan
{{Short description|Taiwanese politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Lin Pin-kuan
| native_name = {{nobold|林炳坤}}
| native_name_lang = zh-tw
| honorific-suffix = MLY
| image = File:林炳坤.jpg
| imagesize =
| smallimage =
| caption =
| order = Chairman of the Non-Partisan Solidarity Union
| term_start = 15 June 2007
| term_end =
| predecessor = Chang Po-ya
| successor =
| constituency =
| order1 = Member of the Legislative Yuan
| term_start1 = 1 February 1996
| term_end1 = 31 January 2012
| predecessor1 =
| successor1 = Yang Yao
| constituency1 = Penghu County
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1948|8|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = Kaohsiung County, Taiwan
| party = Non-Partisan Solidarity Union {{small|(since 2004)}}
| otherparty = Kuomintang {{small|(until 2001)}}
Independent {{small|(2001–04)}}
| nationality = Taiwanese
| profession =
| education = National Taiwan University (BA)
}}
Lin Pin-kuan or Peter Lin ({{zh|t=林炳坤}}; born 15 August 1948) is a Taiwanese politician. First elected to the Legislative Yuan as a member of the Kuomintang in 1995, he continued serving until 2012. In 2004, Lin switched affiliations to the Non-Partisan Solidarity Union, and became chairman of the NPSU in 2007.
Education and early career
Lin studied library science at National Taiwan University, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree.{{cite news|title=Lin Pin-kuan (5)|url=https://www.ly.gov.tw/EngPages/List.aspx?nodeid=11399|accessdate=4 June 2017|agency=Legislative Yuan}} Prior to running for office, he worked in the construction industry.{{cite book|author1-link=Dafydd Fell|last1=Fell|first1=Dafydd|title=Taiwan's Social Movements Under Ma Ying-jeou: From the Wild Strawberries to the Sunflowers|date=2017|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=9781317198550|page=58|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ejklDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA58}}
Political career
Lin served his first two full terms in the Legislative Yuan, representing Penghu County, as a member of the Kuomintang.{{cite news|title=Lin Pin-kuan (3)|url=https://www.ly.gov.tw/EngPages/List.aspx?nodeid=10980|accessdate=4 June 2017|agency=Legislative Yuan}}{{cite news|title=Lin Pin-kuan (4)|url=https://www.ly.gov.tw/EngPages/List.aspx?nodeid=11164|accessdate=4 June 2017|agency=Legislative Yuan}} Lin left the Kuomintang in 2001,{{cite news|last1=Lin|first1=Chieh-yu|title=Lien rails at talk of a KMT schism|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2001/04/18/0000082140|accessdate=4 June 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=18 April 2001}} and in December, won reelection as an independent. He joined the Kuomintang caucus upon taking office for his third term in 2002.{{cite news|last1=Low|first1=Stephanie|title=President willing to help independents form own caucus|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2002/03/03/0000126129|accessdate=4 June 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=3 March 2002}} Later that year, Lin voted to confirm Yao Chia-wen as President of the Examination Yuan.{{cite news|last1=Low|first1=Stephanie|title=KMT alleges foul play over Yao vote|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2002/06/22/0000141353|accessdate=4 June 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=22 June 2002}} Shortly after his vote was cast in opposition to KMT caucus wishes, Lin defected to a caucus convened by independents.{{cite news|last1=Hsu|first1=Crystal|title=Independents try to form caucus|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2002/07/02/0000146684|accessdate=4 June 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=2 July 2002}} In June 2004, Lin joined the Non-Partisan Solidarity Union.{{cite news|last1=Wu|first1=Debby|title=Independents anticipate playing a crucial role in legislature|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/12/12/2003214733|accessdate=4 June 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=12 December 2004}}{{cite news|last1=Yiu|first1=Cody|title=Legislator says new party should not be recognized|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/06/17/2003175377|accessdate=4 June 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=17 June 2004}} Lin won reelection twice thereafter running under the NPSU banner.{{cite news|last1=Chiu|first1=Chu-Tzu|title=Slight shifts in political geography|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/12/12/2003214744/2|accessdate=4 June 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=12 December 2004}}{{cite news|last1=Lu|first1=Meggie|title=Legislative elections and referendums: Smaller parties suffer a setback|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/01/13/2003396918/1|accessdate=4 June 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=13 January 2008}} In November 2010, Lin succeeded Kao Chin Su-mei as convenor of the legislature's Internal Administration Committee.{{cite news|last1=Shih|first1=Hsiao-kuang|title=Legislators scrap Diaoyutais tour|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2010/10/31/2003487327|accessdate=4 June 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=31 October 2010}} His 2012 legislative bid was unsuccessful.{{cite news|last1=Wang|first1=Chris|title=2012 ELECTIONS: DPP sues Wu over Yu Chang remarks|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/12/20/2003521190|accessdate=4 June 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=20 December 2011}}
Political stances
Lin has long supported the establishment of casinos in Penghu County.{{cite news|last1=Tsai|first1=Ting-i|title=Offshore gambling measures score big among legislators|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2001/10/16/0000107315|accessdate=4 June 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=16 October 2001}}{{cite news|last1=Ko|first1=Shu-ling|title=Assembly, casino bills get the nod|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2005/05/19/2003255699|accessdate=4 June 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=19 May 2005}} He stated in 2008 that the intention was not "to attract hardcore gamblers, but to develop casino resorts that will bring families."{{cite news|last1=Hazeldine|first1=Richard|title=FEATURE: Penghu awaits casinos with mixed feelings|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/12/07/2003430495|accessdate=4 June 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=7 December 2008}} In 2009, Lin said that his constituents had never discussed opposition to the building of casinos with him, blaming disapproval of the initiative on the Democratic Progressive Party and people from the main island of Taiwan.{{cite news|last1=Shih|first1=Hsiu-chuan|last2=Loa|first2=Iok-sin|title=Casino activists stage last push|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/09/26/2003454493|accessdate=4 June 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=26 September 2009}} The proposal was rejected by Penghu County residents via referendum in 2009.{{cite news|last1=Shih|first1=Hsiu-Chuan|title=ANALYSIS: Analysts say referendum highlights problems|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/09/29/2003454762/2|accessdate=4 June 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=29 September 2009}}{{cite news|last1=Loa|first1=Iok-sin|title=Residents of Penghu reject casino resort plan|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/09/27/2003454586|accessdate=4 June 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=27 September 2009}} In December 2010, Lin proposed an amendment to the Offshore Islands Development Act mandating that the government should provide a living stipend, along with funds for transportation so that students native to Taiwan's outlying islands could return home at the end of the school year.{{cite news|last1=Wang|first1=Flora|title=Progress moving slowly on NHI premium reform|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2010/12/29/2003492146|accessdate=4 June 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=29 December 2010}} To further ease travel for residents of the outlying islands, Lin moved to amend the Civil Aviation Act, so that travel via certain airports and islands received a larger subsidy.{{cite news|last1=Ko|first1=Shu-ling|title=Penghu residents protest during Ma visit|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2010/12/13/2003490832|accessdate=4 June 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=13 December 2010}}
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lin, Pin-kuan}}
Category:National Taiwan University alumni
Category:Leaders of the Non-Partisan Solidarity Union
Category:Non-Partisan Solidarity Union Members of the Legislative Yuan
Category:Members of the 3rd Legislative Yuan
Category:Members of the 4th Legislative Yuan
Category:Members of the 5th Legislative Yuan
Category:Members of the 6th Legislative Yuan
Category:Members of the 7th Legislative Yuan
Category:Kuomintang Members of the Legislative Yuan in Taiwan
Category:Penghu County Members of the Legislative Yuan
Category:Politicians of the Republic of China on Taiwan from Kaohsiung