Liu Chien-kuo
{{Short description|Taiwanese politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox Officeholder
| name = Liu Chien-kuo
| native_name = {{nobold|劉建國}}
| native_name_lang = zh-tw
| honorific-suffix = MLY
| image = Liu Chien-Kuo - by Kuan-Ju Huang 01 (cropped).jpg
| order1 =
| office1 = Member of the Legislative Yuan
| constituency1 = Yunlin 2
| term_start1 = 5 October 2009
| term_end1 =
| predecessor1 = Chang Sho-wen
| successor1 =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1969|3|9}}
| birth_place = Douliu, Yunlin County, Taiwan
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse =
| party = Democratic Progressive Party
| education = National Open University (BA)
Meiho University (BS)
Nanhua University (MA)
}}
{{about|the politician|the ecologist with the same Chinese name|Jianguo Liu}}
Liu Chien-kuo ({{zh|c=劉建國|p=Liú Jiànguó}}; born 9 March 1969) is a Taiwanese politician. A former member of the Yunlin County Council, he has represented Yunlin County in the Legislative Yuan since 2009.
Education
Liu has earned two bachelor's degrees, one from National Open University in public administration and the other from Meiho University in social work.{{cite news|title=Who's Who in the ROC |url=http://www.ey.gov.tw/en/Upload/WebArchive/4695/Who's%20Who%20in%20the%20ROC.pdf |accessdate=17 June 2016 |agency=Executive Yuan |page=187 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020105104/http://www.ey.gov.tw/en/Upload/WebArchive/4695/Who%27s%20Who%20in%20the%20ROC.pdf |archivedate=October 20, 2016 }} He also earned a master's degree from Nanhua University.
Political career
Liu served on the Yunlin County Council before running for a legislative seat in 2008.{{cite news|last1=Chuang|first1=Jimmy|title=TSU's Yin willing to run for DPP to win election|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/11/04/2003386141|accessdate=16 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=4 November 2007}}{{cite news|last1=Liu|first1=John|title=Western DPP candidates for Legislature ride on Tsai's coattails|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/presidential-election/2015/12/21/454048/Western-DPP.htm|accessdate=16 June 2016|work=China Post|date=21 December 2015}} In January 2008, he filed a lawsuit against Chang Sho-wen, accusing Chang of bribery.{{cite news|last1=Chang|first1=Rich|title=KMT supporting corruption: Chai|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/12/02/2003430085|accessdate=16 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=2 December 2008}} He had lost to the Kuomintang candidate in the legislative elections held that month and in June 2009, Chang's election was annulled.{{cite news|title=Election of KMT lawmaker Chang annulled|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/tainan/2009/07/01/214394/Election-of.htm|accessdate=16 June 2016|work=China Post|date=1 July 2009}} Liu faced Lee Ying-yuan in a primary, and received the official backing of the Democratic Progressive Party.{{cite news|last1=Chang|first1=Rich|title=DPP to announce its candidates for year-end elections|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/07/05/2003447916|accessdate=16 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=5 July 2009}}{{cite news|title=DPP to nominate Liu in legislative by-election|url=http://www.taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=54565&ctNode=2229&mp=9|accessdate=16 June 2016|work=Taiwan Today|date=13 July 2009}} A by-election for Chang's vacated seat was held in September, and Liu won handily.{{cite news|last1=Ko|first1=Shu-ling|title=DPP's Liu wins by landslide in Yunlin|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/09/27/2003454582|accessdate=16 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=27 September 2009}} In 2011, he joined the DPP-affiliated Our Generation Alliance led by Koo Kwang-ming.{{cite news|last1=Chao|first1=Vincent Y.|title=New pan-green political action group established|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/05/06/2003502544|accessdate=16 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=6 May 2011}} Liu's successful 2012 reelection campaign featured a hunger strike.{{cite news|last1=Wang|first1=Chris|title=DPP alleges that police, judiciary showing bias|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2012/01/12/2003523019|accessdate=16 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=12 January 2012}} Liu was a DPP candidate for the Yunlin County Magistracy in 2014, but ended his campaign after losing the party primary to Lee Chin-yung.{{cite news|last1=Wang|first1=Chris|title=DPP heavyweights to negotiate party primaries|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/08/29/2003570855|accessdate=16 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=29 August 2013}}{{cite news|last1=Wang|first1=Chris|title=Lee Chin-yung wins DPP's Yunlin primary|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/10/31/2003575820|accessdate=16 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=31 October 2013}} He returned to the legislature in 2016. The Democratic Progressive Party nominated Liu as its candidate for the Yunlin County magistracy in April 2022.{{cite news |last1=Su |first1=Chin-feng |last2=Chin |first2=Jonathan |title=DPP nominates Tsai Chi-chang for Taichung mayor |url=https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2022/05/01/2003777525 |access-date=1 May 2022 |date=1 May 2022}}
Political positions
Many farmers in Liu's home district raise pigs.{{cite news|last1=Loa|first1=Iok-sin|title=Future Cabinet spokesman stands by minister-designate's import comments|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/04/23/2003644623|accessdate=16 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=23 April 2016}} To help them, he has spoken out against "free economic pilot zones" that he believe hurts Taiwan's agricultural sector.{{cite news|last1=Loa|first1=Iok-sin|title=Farming activists call for halt to plans for FEPZs|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/03/30/2003558362|accessdate=16 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=30 March 2013}} Liu has repeatedly attempted to amend environmental laws in Taiwan. His proposed changes include developing a system to track pollutant emissions,{{cite news|last1=Lin|first1=Sean|title=Gridlock stymies PM2.5 reform|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2015/05/12/2003618072|accessdate=16 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=12 May 2015}} and asking the Environmental Protection Administration to specifically track air quality in high-risk areas, such as in temples in which incense is burned.{{cite news|last1=Chen|first1=Wei-han|title=Central Taiwan may be marked air pollution control zone|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/03/18/2003641844|accessdate=16 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=18 March 2016}} Liu has specifically focused on passing legislation related to harmful particulates in the air.{{cite news|last1=Lin|first1=Sean|title=EPA urged to step up fight against pollution|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/03/17/2003613755|accessdate=16 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=17 March 2015}}{{cite news|title=Legislators propose adding PM2.5 to disaster act|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/04/05/2003643232|accessdate=16 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=5 April 2016}} He has also participated in environmental protests,{{cite news|last1=Lin|first1=Sean|title=Nationwide rallies decry air pollution|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2015/06/07/2003620107|accessdate=16 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=7 June 2015}} and have provided a platform for environmental groups to criticize industrial companies such as Formosa Petrochemical Corporation.{{cite news|last1=Lee|first1=I-chia|title=Ban expansion by Formosa: groups|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2012/09/18/2003543063|accessdate=16 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=18 September 2012}} On the subject of United States beef imports in Taiwan, Liu repeatedly stated throughout his first term in office that he is against the use of ractopamine in animal feed and does not wish for the government to lift the ban on ractopamine by executive order,{{cite news|last1=Shih|first1=Hsiu-chuan|last2=Wang|first2=Chris|title=DPP, TSU boycott premier's policy address|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2012/02/25/2003526313/2|accessdate=16 June 2016|date=25 February 2012}}{{cite news|last1=Shih|first1=Hsiu-chuan|title=Lawmakers grill DOH minister over beef policy|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2012/03/08/2003527271|accessdate=16 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=8 March 2012}} but only by legislative consent.{{cite news|last1=Ko|first1=Shu-ling|last2=Hsu|first2=Jenny W.|last3=Mo|first3=Yan-chih|last4=Wang|first4=Flora|title=Lawmakers turn up heat on US beef|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/10/29/2003457157|work=Taipei Times|date=29 October 2009}} In 2012, he suggested that military personnel switch to eating pork instead of beef due to the ractopamine issue, a stance that was ridiculed online and which the military described as excessive.{{cite news|title=Proposal that soldiers eat 1kg of pork a day panned|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2012/03/22/2003528406|accessdate=17 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=22 March 2012}}
Personal life
Liu and Chang Sho-wen, who have faced each other in two elections, fought while attending a banquet in 2015.{{cite news|last1=Loa|first1=Iok-sin|title=Political rivals exchange blows, deny romantic feud|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/06/11/2003620440|accessdate=16 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=11 June 2015}}
Liu announced in June 2016 that his personal relationship with Adrean Lee, whom he and Chang had both dated, had ended.{{cite news|last1=Chan|first1=Shih-hung|last2=Tseng|first2=Wei-chen|last3=Chung|first3=Jake|last4=Loa|first4=Iok-sin|title=Liu Chien-kuo says his romance with Adrean Lee is over|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/06/02/2003647702|accessdate=16 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=2 June 2016}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{commons category|Liu Chien-kuo}}
{{authority control}}
{{9th Legislative Yuan members}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Liu, Chien-kuo}}
Category:Yunlin County Members of the Legislative Yuan
Category:Members of the 7th Legislative Yuan
Category:Members of the 8th Legislative Yuan
Category:Members of the 9th Legislative Yuan
Category:Democratic Progressive Party Members of the Legislative Yuan