Tai Chen-yao
{{Short description|Taiwanese politician (1948–2017)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Tai Chen-yao
| native_name = {{nobold|戴振耀}}
| native_name_lang = zh-tw
| honorific-suffix = MLY
| caption = Tai was awarded the Order of Brilliant Star in September 2017
| image = 戴振耀 20170927.jpg
| nationality = Taiwanese
| order1 = Vice Minister of the Council of Agriculture
| term_start1 = 2003
| term_end1 = 2005
| 1blankname1 = Minister
| 1namedata1 = Lee Chin-lung
| predecessor1 =
| successor1 = Lin Kuo-hua
| order2 = Member of the Legislative Yuan
| constituency2 = Republic of China
| term_start2 = 1 February 1999
| term_end2 = 31 January 2002
| predecessor2 =
| successor2 =
| order3 =
| constituency3 = Republic of China
| term_start3 = 1 February 1993
| term_end3 = 31 January 1996
| predecessor3 =
| successor3 =
| order4 =
| constituency4 = Farmers
| term_start4 = 1 February 1990
| term_end4 = 31 January 1993
| predecessor4 =
| successor4 =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1948|4|2|df=y}}
| birth_place = Ciaotou, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2017|11|19|1948|4|2}}
| death_place = Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| spouse =
| relations =
| party = Democratic Progressive Party
| alma_mater =
| occupation =
| profession =
| education = University of San Diego
}}
Tai Chen-yao ({{zh|t=戴振耀|p=Dài Zhènyào}}; 2 April 1948 – 19 November 2017) was a Taiwanese politician. He served three terms in the Legislative Yuan, from 1990 to 1996 and again from 1999 to 2002, and was later named vice chairman of the Council of Agriculture.
Early life and education
Tai was born in Baishu, Ciaotou, Kaohsiung, on 2 April 1948. He attended schools in his native Kaohsiung and later studied at the University of San Diego.{{cite news|title=Tai Chen-yao (4)|url=https://www.ly.gov.tw/EngPages/List.aspx?nodeid=11326|accessdate=12 September 2017|agency=Legislative Yuan}} Taiwanese Hokkien was his first language.{{cite news|title=Speaking Hokkien sets lawmakers' tongues wagging|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2001/05/01/0000083881|accessdate=12 September 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=1 May 2001}}
Career
In 1969, while Tai was completing his military service in Penghu, he supported the independent legislative campaign of {{ill|Kuo Kuo-chi|zh|郭國基}} by distributing pamphlets. Tai was forced to stop within five minutes and subject to two weeks confinement, but not formally reported by his superior officer. Tai was subsequently employed by the Chinese Petroleum Corporation (CPC). In 1978, he ran for and won a seat on the Ciaotou Township Council, despite opposition from his Kuomintang-affiliated bosses at CPC.{{cite news |author1=Han Cheung |title=Taiwan in Time: The farmer’s champion |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2024/03/03/2003814367 |access-date=4 March 2024 |work=Taipei Times |date=3 March 2024}} Tai, a farmer's rights and tangwai activist, was held at Hotel Saltwater, tried in a Taipei court, and imprisoned for three years for his actions during the Kaohsiung Incident in 1979.{{cite news|last1=Tseng|first1=Wei-chen|title=FEATURE: Days of political prisoner legislators near their end|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/07/24/2003509014|accessdate=12 September 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=24 July 2011}} Upon his release, Tai organized a group of farmers from Ciaotou who became active advocates against the exploitation of farmers, drew attention to industrial pollution, and protested governmental actions during international trade negotiations that affected farmers. He was elected to the Legislative Yuan for the first time in 1989, representing the functional constituency for farmers.{{cite book|author1-link=Shelley Rigger |last1=Rigger |first1=Shelley |title=From Opposition to Power: Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party |date=2001 |publisher=Lynne Rienner Publishers |isbn=9781555879693 |page=81 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Twf7Uk8N0AEC&pg=PA81}} His candidacy was backed by the Farmers' Rights Association, the organization that led the {{ill|1988 farmers' rights protest in Taiwan|zh|1988年臺灣農民運動}}. During that election cycle, Tai became the first candidate in 40 years to win election from the agricultural constituency without the support of the Kuomintang.{{cite journal |title=The opposition makes major gains |journal=Taiwan Communiqué |issue=43 |page=4 |url=https://www.taiwandc.org/twcom/tc43-int.pdf |issn=1027-3999}} In April 1992, Tai was injured in a physical altercation on the floor of the Legislative Yuan, which required hospitalization.{{cite journal |title=Fistfights in session ... and the DPP pulls out |journal=Taiwan Communiqué |date=June 1991 |issue=50 |page=15 |url=https://www.taiwandc.org/twcom/tc50-int.pdf}} In the December 1992 legislative elections, Tai retained his legislative seat as an at-large candidate on the party list of the Democratic Progressive Party.{{cite news |title=Tai Chen-yao (2) |url=https://www.ly.gov.tw/EngPages/List.aspx?nodeid=10924 |accessdate=13 July 2020 |agency=Legislative Yuan}} The DPP's New Tide faction supported his campaign for a second consecutive term.{{cite journal |title=Non-regional seats |journal=Taiwan Communiqué |date=October 1992 |issue=56 |page=13 |url=https://www.taiwandc.org/twcom/tc56-int.pdf}} Tai served his third and final term on the Legislative Yuan from 1999 to 2002. By March 2003, Tai was vice chairman of the Council of Agriculture.{{cite news |title=Train service resumes |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/03/10/0000197447 |accessdate=13 July 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=10 March 2003}} In his COA position, Tai discussed conservation initiatives related to the black-faced spoonbill,{{cite news |title=Spoonbill die-off to hatch special unit |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/04/02/0000200501 |accessdate=13 July 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=2 April 2003}} the price of the 2003 rice crop,{{cite news |last1=Wu |first1=Debby |title=Farmers protest low rice price |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/11/01/2003074169 |accessdate=13 July 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=1 November 2003}} the rescue of stray dolphins in Tamsui River,{{cite news |last1=Chiu |first1=Yu-tzu |title=Stray dolphins to be rescued from Tamshui river today |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/03/05/2003101175 |accessdate=13 July 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=5 March 2005}} and promoted Arbor Month and honey made from longan.{{cite news |title=Chen launches Arbor Month drive |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/02/08/2003097907 |accessdate=13 July 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=8 February 2004}}{{cite news |last1=Chiu |first1=Yu-Tzu |title=Alien counting on us to eat more chicken and honey |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/03/29/2003108178 |accessdate=13 July 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=29 March 2004}} Tai was formally sworn in as COA vice chairman in June 2004,{{cite news |last1=Lin |first1=Chieh-yu |title=Chen swears in Wu, other new top officials |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/06/09/2003174354 |accessdate=13 July 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=9 June 2004}} after which he inspected damage from Typhoon Mindulle alongside premier Yu Shyi-kun.{{cite news |title=Premier inspects forest damaged by Mindulle |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/07/25/2003180340 |accessdate=13 July 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=25 July 2004}} Upon learning that Formosan rock macaques were damaging crops, Tai stated in October 2004 that the Council of Agriculture would establish a task force to confront the issue.{{cite news |title=Farmers up in arms over damage caused by protected monkey |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/10/07/2003205863 |accessdate=13 July 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=7 October 2004}} In April 2005, Tai cautioned Taiwanese farmers against exporting to China, as a formal agreement on tariffs had not yet been signed.{{cite news |title=COA warns farmers on China offer |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/04/20/2003251214 |accessdate=13 July 2020 |date=20 April 2005}} Soon after the 2005 Pan-Blue visits to mainland China, Tai announced in June 2005 that the Council of Agriculture would be negotiating an agreement for the import of Taiwan-grown fruits to China.{{cite news |title=Fruit export talks to be held |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/06/12/2003258963 |accessdate=13 July 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=12 June 2005}}
Legacy
Tai was awarded the Order of Brilliant Star in 2017, and died of pancreatic cancer on 19 November of that year, aged 69.{{cite news|title=Tsai pledges to carry out last wishes of farmer's rights activist|url=http://english.rti.org.tw/m/news/?recordId=78079|accessdate=20 November 2017|agency=Radio Taiwan International|date=19 November 2017}} The 2024 series Hotel Saltwater, a fictionalization of Tai's life, aired on Public Television Service.
References
{{reflist}}
{{commons category|Tai Chen-yao}}
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Category:Democratic Progressive Party Members of the Legislative Yuan
Category:Members of the 1st Legislative Yuan in Taiwan
Category:Members of the 2nd Legislative Yuan
Category:Members of the 4th Legislative Yuan
Category:University of San Diego alumni
Category:Party List Members of the Legislative Yuan
Category:Politicians of the Republic of China on Taiwan from Kaohsiung
Category:Taiwanese prisoners and detainees
Category:Prisoners and detainees of Taiwan
Category:Deaths from pancreatic cancer in Taiwan
Category:Recipients of the Order of Brilliant Star
Category:Government ministers of Taiwan
Category:Farmers' rights activists
Category:Local political office-holders in Taiwan
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