Tsai Ing-wen

Tsai was born at Mackay Memorial Hospital in Zhongshan District, Taipei City{{Cite web|url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/focus/paper/488332|title=感謝支持 蔡現身長老教會年會 - 焦點 - 自由時報電子報|date=2011-04-29|website=自由電子報|language=zh-Hant-TW|access-date=2020-01-25|archive-date=21 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121120537/https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/focus/paper/488332|url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Must-know facts about Taiwan's presidential candidates |url=https://asiatimes.com/2015/12/must-know-facts-about-taiwans-presidential-candidates |access-date=21 January 2016 |work=Asia Times |date=17 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126191118/https://asiatimes.com/2015/12/must-know-facts-about-taiwans-presidential-candidates/ |archive-date=26 November 2020 |url-status=live }} on 31 August 1956,{{cite web |title=About Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen |url=http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=2809116 |access-date=21 January 2016 |work=Taiwan News |date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126121959/http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=2809116 |archive-date=26 January 2016 |url-status=live }} the youngest of eleven children.{{cite web |last1=Yeh |first1=Sophia |last2=Chang |first2=S.C. |title=Tsai Ing-wen's brothers vow they will avoid conflicts of interests |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201603140031.aspx |access-date=14 March 2016 |agency=Central News Agency |date=14 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315050427/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201603140031.aspx |archive-date=15 March 2016 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Vanderklippe |first1=Nathan |title=Tsai Ing-wen: Taiwan's quiet revolutionary |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/tsai-ing-wen-taiwans-quiet-revolutionary/article28215643 |access-date=21 January 2016 |work=The Globe and Mail |date=15 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115213301/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/tsai-ing-wen-taiwans-quiet-revolutionary/article28215643/ |archive-date=15 January 2016 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Li |first1=Xueying |title=Democratic Progressive Party's Tsai Ing-wen becomes Taiwan's first woman president |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/democratic-progressive-partys-tsai-ing-wen-becomes-taiwans-first-woman-president |access-date=21 January 2016 |work=Straits Times |date=16 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121023402/http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/democratic-progressive-partys-tsai-ing-wen-becomes-taiwans-first-woman-president |archive-date=21 January 2016 |url-status=live }} Her father, Tsai Chieh-sheng (1918–2006), was a businessman who ran an auto repair shop,{{Cite web|url=https://english.president.gov.tw/Page/40|title=President Tsai|website=Office of the President of the Republic of China (Taiwan)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331104405/https://english.president.gov.tw/Page/40|archive-date=31 March 2018|url-status=live|access-date=1 December 2018}} and her mother Chang Chin-fong (1925–2018) was a housewife.{{cite news |author1=邱紹揚、李岱娟 |title=蔡英文媽媽是酒家女？堂哥闢謠：非常好的賢妻良母 |url=https://www.setn.com/News.aspx?NewsID=117749 |access-date=1 January 2022 |agency=三立新聞網 |date=12 January 2016 |language=zh |archive-date=1 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101042052/https://www.setn.com/News.aspx?NewsID=117749 |url-status=live }} Chieh-sheng was Hakka while Chin-fong was a aboriginal Taiwanese member of the Paiwan.

Tsai went to high school at Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Girls High School.{{cite web |url=http://news.stnn.cc/hk_taiwan/2016/0602/321027.shtml |script-title=zh:蔡英文回母校中山女高 勉学妹温柔有企图心 |website=news.stnn.cc |language=zh-hans |date=2 June 2016 |access-date=11 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929232751/http://news.stnn.cc/hk_taiwan/2016/0602/321027.shtml |archive-date=29 September 2017 |url-status=live }} She chose to study law at the behest of her father.{{cite web |last1=Chen |first1=Hsin-yi |title=A Woman of Many Parts: Tsai Ing-wen |url=http://www.taiwan-panorama.com/en/show_issue.php?id=201270107030E.TXT&table=2&h1=QWJvdXQgVGFpd2Fu&h2=R2VuZGVyIElzc3Vlcw%3D%3D |access-date=21 January 2016 |work=Taiwan Panorama |date=July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919135745/http://www.taiwan-panorama.com/en/show_issue.php?id=201270107030E.TXT&table=2&h1=QWJvdXQgVGFpd2Fu&h2=R2VuZGVyIElzc3Vlcw%3D%3D |archive-date=19 September 2015 |url-status=live }} After graduating at the College of Law, National Taiwan University, in 1978, Tsai obtained a Master of Laws at Cornell Law School in 1980. She then studied law at the London School of Economics and was awarded a Ph.D. in law from the University of London in 1984.{{cite web |title=Profile: Tsai Ing-wen |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16464515 |access-date=2 January 2015 |publisher=BBC |date=12 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216195336/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16464515 |archive-date=16 December 2014 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=100145584&capId=90417497&previousCapId=90417497&previousTitle=TAIMED%20BIOLOGICS%20INC |title=Ing-Wen Tsai: Executive Profile & Biography – BusinessWeek |publisher=Bloomberg Business |access-date=16 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126181405/http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=100145584&capId=90417497&previousCapId=90417497&previousTitle=TAIMED%20BIOLOGICS%20INC |archive-date=26 January 2016 |url-status=live }} Upon her return to Taiwan, she taught law at the School of Law of Soochow University and National Chengchi University, both in Taipei.{{cite book |last1=Copper |first1=John F. |title=The KMT Returns to Power |date=2012 |publisher=Lexington Books |isbn=9780739174784 |page=188 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HbBKKy_TEcIC&pg=PA188 |access-date=2 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216120006/https://books.google.com/books?id=HbBKKy_TEcIC&pg=PA188&lpg=PA188 |archive-date=16 February 2017 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Chuang |first1=Jimmy |title=Vice Premier Tsai is nobody's fool |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2006/08/13/2003322996 |access-date=6 February 2017 |work=Taipei Times |date=13 August 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930084004/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2006/08/13/2003322996 |archive-date=30 September 2017 |url-status=live }}

In the 1990s, Tsai was also appointed to the Fair Trade Commission and the Copyright Commission. She served as consultant for the Mainland Affairs Council and the National Security Council. She also led the drafting team on the Statute Governing Relations with Hong Kong and Macau ({{Lang-zh|c=|s=|t=港澳關係條例}}).{{cite web |title=Tsai Criticizes "One Country, Two Areas" Now, But Used To Advocate "One Country, Four Areas" |url=http://www.kmt.org.tw/english/page.aspx?type=article&mnum=112&anum=11053 |access-date=10 December 2014 |work=United Daily News |publisher=Kuomintang News Network |date=26 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701062753/http://www1.kmt.org.tw/english/page.aspx?type=article&mnum=112&anum=11053 |archive-date=1 July 2016 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Tsai |first1=Ing-wen |last2=Wortzel |first2=Larry |title=A New Era in Cross-Strait Relations? Taiwan and China in the WTO |url=http://www.heritage.org/research/lecture/a-new-era-in-cross-strait-relations |access-date=10 December 2014 |publisher=Heritage Foundation |date=14 January 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225180058/http://www.heritage.org/research/lecture/a-new-era-in-cross-strait-relations |archive-date=25 December 2014 |url-status=unfit }}

In 2000, Tsai was given the high-profile appointment of chair of the Mainland Affairs Council. Confirming the widely held belief that she maintained Pan-Green sympathies, Tsai joined the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in 2004. She was subsequently nominated by the DPP to be a candidate in the 2004 legislative election and was elected as a legislator-at-large.

On 26 January 2006, Tsai was appointed to the post of vice president of the Executive Yuan, a position commonly referred to as vice premier.{{cite news |last1=Chuang |first1=Jimmy |title=Premier Su enjoys busy first morning in his new office |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2006/01/27/2003290913 |access-date=24 July 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=26 January 2006 |archive-date=10 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310231146/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2006/01/27/2003290913 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Tsai Ing-wen confirmed as Su deputy |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2006/01/21/2003290001 |access-date=24 July 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=21 January 2006 |archive-date=10 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310231049/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2006/01/21/2003290001 |url-status=live }} She concurrently served as chairwoman of the Consumer Protection Commission.

On 17 May 2007, Tsai, along with the rest of the cabinet of out-going Premier Su Tseng-chang, resigned to make way for incoming Premier Chang Chun-hsiung and his cabinet. Premier Chang named Chiou I-jen, the incumbent secretary-general of the Presidential Office to replace Tsai as vice premier.{{cite press release |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/news/archives/front/2007517/109921.htm |title=Taiwan's new premier picks tough strategist as deputy in limited Cabinet reshuffle |publisher=The China Post |date=17 May 2007 |access-date=22 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927194836/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/news/archives/front/2007517/109921.htm |archive-date=27 September 2007 |url-status=live }} She then served as the chair of TaiMedBiologics, a biotechnology company based in Taiwan. The Kuomintang accused Tsai of contracting government work out to TaiMedBiologics during her term as vice premier, while planning to leave the government and lead the company afterward.{{cite web |title=Taiwan DPP presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen strongly defends integrity in biotech investment case |url=http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=1788969 |access-date=2 January 2015 |work=Taiwan News |date=16 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102090712/http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=1788969 |archive-date=2 January 2015 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Wang |first1=Chris |title=2012 ELECTIONS: Yu Chang papers altered twice: DPP |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2011/12/22/2003521327 |access-date=2 January 2015 |work=Taipei Times |date=22 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231133607/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2011/12/22/2003521327 |archive-date=31 December 2014 |url-status=live }} She was later cleared of all alleged wrongdoing.{{cite web |last1=Chang |first1=Rich |title=Tsai cleared of Yu Chang allegations |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2012/08/15/2003540320 |access-date=2 January 2015 |work=Taipei Times |date=15 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231140207/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2012/08/15/2003540320 |archive-date=31 December 2014 |url-status=live }}

In Kuomintang candidate Ma Ying-jeou's search for his running mate for the 2008 ROC presidential election, Tsai, a DPP member, was surprisingly suggested. Ma stated that there were no set criteria for a running mate, that his search would not be defined by gender, occupation, or even political party affiliations.{{cite web |script-title=zh:又傳創意組合 蔡英文會是馬英九副手搭檔？ |url=http://hk.crntt.com/doc/1003/7/9/9/100379928.html?coluid=7&kindid=0&docid=100379928 |access-date=4 January 2015 |work=China Review News |publisher=crntt.com |date=1 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104032844/http://hk.crntt.com/doc/1003/7/9/9/100379928.html?coluid=7&kindid=0&docid=100379928 |archive-date=4 January 2015 |url-status=live }}

On 19 May 2008, Tsai defeated Koo Kwang-ming in the election for DPP chair, and succeeded outgoing Frank Hsieh as the 12th-term chair of the party. She was the first woman to chair a major Taiwanese political party.{{cite news |title=首位台灣女黨魁 蔡英文當選民進黨主席 |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/ch/news/658472 |access-date=1 January 2022 |agency=Taiwan News |date=19 May 2008 |language=zh |archive-date=1 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101020930/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/ch/news/658472 |url-status=live }}

File:Tsai Ing-wen.jpg

Tsai took office on 20 May 2008, the same day Ma Ying-jeou was inaugurated as president. She said that DPP would work to deepen the Taiwanese localization movement while defending social justice. She criticized Ma for mentioning closer Cross-Strait relations but nothing about Taiwan's sovereignty and national security.{{cite press release |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/05/22/2003412588 |title=New DPP chief bothered by what Ma did not say |access-date=22 May 2008 |date=22 May 2008 |publisher=Taipei Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529210450/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/05/22/2003412588 |archive-date=29 May 2008 |url-status=live }}

Tsai questioned Ma's stance on Taiwan's sovereign status. Ma emphasized the importance of the so-called 1992 Consensus and called Tsai a Taiwan independence extremist. Tsai criticized Ma's government for not answering her question and labeling others.{{cite press release |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/06/04/2003413779 |title=Tsai rejects independence criticism |date=4 June 2008 |access-date=3 June 2008 |publisher=Taipei Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080606125327/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/06/04/2003413779 |archive-date=6 June 2008 |url-status=live }}

After former President Chen Shui-bian's acknowledgment of transferring past campaign funds overseas, Tsai apologized to the public and also said that the DPP would not try to cover up for Chen's alleged misdeeds.{{cite web |last1=Bruyas |first1=Dimitri |title=Disgraced Chen quits the DPP |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2008/08/16/170280/Disgraced-Chen.htm |access-date=2 January 2015 |work=China Post |date=16 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102082038/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2008/08/16/170280/Disgraced-Chen.htm |archive-date=2 January 2015 |url-status=live }} The Clean Government Commission was set up to investigate corruption within the DPP.{{cite web |last1=Young |first1=David |title=Chen Shui-bian checkmates DPP chair |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2008/10/15/178701/Chen-Shui-bian.htm |access-date=2 January 2015 |work=China Post |date=15 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102081859/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2008/10/15/178701/Chen-Shui-bian.htm |archive-date=2 January 2015 |url-status=live }}

On 25 April 2010, Tsai participated in a televised debate against President and Kuomintang chairman Ma Ying-jeou over a proposed trade agreement, the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA); while President Ma believed ECFA would increase Taiwanese exports to mainland China and lower unemployment rates, Tsai said it "will force Taiwan to open up for cheap Chinese exports eventually" and certain domestic industries will be harmed by the mainland trade invasion. Tsai also said that the pact "will make Taiwan lose its independence in cross-strait relations and become a Chinese parasite" and that Taiwan should negotiate with China under the multilateral-framework World Trade Organization, which would offer more trade protections and emphasize Taiwan's distinct status.{{cite press release |url=http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9FA3LH80.htm |title=Taiwan president and opposition debate China deal |access-date=25 April 2010 |date=25 April 2010 |publisher=Bloomberg BusinessWeek |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100428230750/http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9FA3LH80.htm |archive-date=28 April 2010 |url-status=dead }}

Under Tsai's leadership, along with some of KMT's unpopular policies, the DPP regained momentum in elections of 2009, after major defeats from 2006 to 2008.{{cite web |url=http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=1534448&lang=eng_news |title=Taiwan: DPP sweeps both seats in legislative by-elections – Taiwan News Online |date=6 March 2011 |access-date=29 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426012612/http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=1534448&lang=eng_news |archive-date=26 April 2016 |url-status=live }} In 2010, she was re-elected as the chair of the DPP.{{cite news |author1=林楠森 |title=蔡英文连任民进党主席 宣布参选新北市 |url=https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/trad/china/2010/05/100523_tsai_dpp |access-date=1 January 2022 |agency=BBC NEWS中文網 |archive-date=1 January 2022 |language=zh |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101022139/https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/trad/china/2010/05/100523_tsai_dpp |url-status=live }}

Tsai made a controversial statement in May 2010 claiming that the Republic of China was a "government-in-exile" non-native to Taiwan;10 October 2011, [http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=1731163 KMT blasts Tsai Ing-wen for flip-flop on R.O.C.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924115215/http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=1731163 |date=24 September 2015 }}, Taiwan News however on 8 October 2011, two days prior to the 100-year anniversary celebrations of the Double Ten Day, Tsai changed her statement, stating that "The ROC is Taiwan, Taiwan is the ROC, and the current ROC government is no longer ruled by a non-native political power".10 October 2011, [http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aIPL&ID=201110100004 DPP chair attends flag-raising ceremony in southern Taiwan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121081930/http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aIPL&ID=201110100004 |date=21 January 2012 }}, Focus Taiwan News

Tsai resigned as chair of the DPP after losing her 2012 presidential election bid to incumbent Ma Ying-jeou.{{Cite web |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aALL&ID=201201140030 |title='Tsai steps down as DPP chair after election defeat' Focus Taiwan News Channel. Retrieved 2012.01.14 |access-date=14 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121081048/http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aALL&ID=201201140030 |archive-date=21 January 2012 |url-status=live }}

On 15 March 2014, Tsai announced that she would once more run for party chief of the DPP against incumbent Su Tseng-chang and Frank Hsieh.{{cite web |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2014-03/15/c_133188222.htm |title=Taiwan's Tsai Ing-wen announces bid for DPP chair |date=15 March 2014 |access-date=15 March 2014 |publisher=Xinhua News Agency |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407205548/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2014-03/15/c_133188222.htm |archive-date=7 April 2014 }} However, both Su and Hsieh dropped out of the election in the aftermath of the Sunflower Student Movement. Tsai defeated Kaohsiung County deputy commissioner Kuo Tai-lin by 79,676 votes.{{cite web |last1=Wang |first1=Chris |title=Tsai Ing-wen elected as DPP chair |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/05/26/2003591240 |access-date=1 June 2014 |publisher=Taipei Times |date=26 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602195927/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/05/26/2003591240 |archive-date=2 June 2014 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Chang |first1=Jung-hsiang |last2=Hsu |first2=Elizabeth |title=Tsai Ing-wen wins DPP chair election (update) |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201405250026.aspx |access-date=2 June 2014 |publisher=Central News Agency |date=25 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605051003/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201405250026.aspx |archive-date=5 June 2014 |url-status=live }}

Tsai led the DPP to an historic victory in the local elections held on 29 November 2014, in which the party secured leadership of 13 of Taiwan's 22 municipalities and counties. The DPP's stunning victory in the elections strengthened Tsai's position within the party and placed her as the front-runner in the 2016 Presidential Elections; she announced her second bid for the Presidency on 15 February 2015.{{cite web |last1=Loa |first1=Iok-sin |title=Tsai Ing-wen declares candidacy |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2015/02/15/2003611601 |access-date=15 February 2015 |work=Taipei Times |date=15 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214202525/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2015/02/15/2003611601 |archive-date=14 February 2015 |url-status=live }} On 16 January 2016, she won the election by a landslide, winning 56.1% of votes, beating her opponent Eric Chu, who won 31.1% of the votes.{{cite web |title=Taiwan gets first female President as DPP sweeps election |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/taiwan-gets-first-female/2432040.html |website=Channel NewsAsia |access-date=16 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116134410/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/taiwan-gets-first-female/2432040.html |archive-date=16 January 2016 |publisher=Mediacorp Pte Ltd|date=2016-01-16|url-status=dead|author-last1=Lim|author-first1=Linette}}

On 24 November 2018, she resigned as leader of the Democratic Progressive Party and refused Premier Lai Ching-te's resignation after a major defeat in local elections.{{Cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-politics-president/taiwan-president-resigns-as-ruling-party-chairwoman-after-election-defeats-idUSKCN1NT0HO| title=Taiwan president resigns as ruling party chairwoman after election| work=Reuters| date=24 November 2018| access-date=25 November 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125085341/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-politics-president/taiwan-president-resigns-as-ruling-party-chairwoman-after-election-defeats-idUSKCN1NT0HO| archive-date=25 November 2018| url-status=live| df=dmy-all}}

Tsai resumed the Democratic Progressive Party leadership from Cho Jung-tai on 20 May 2020, when she was inaugurated for her second presidential term.{{cite news |last1=Pan |first1=Jason |title=DPP chairman leaving office with 'beautiful memories' |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2020/05/14/2003736389 |access-date=14 May 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=14 May 2020 |archive-date=20 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200520200400/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2020/05/14/2003736389 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Yeh |first1=Su-ping |last2=Kao |first2=Evelyn |title=Tsai resumes chairmanship of DPP |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202005200027 |access-date=20 May 2020 |agency=Central News Agency |date=20 May 2020 |archive-date=26 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526092918/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202005200027 |url-status=live }} She resigned as party leader following the 2022 Taiwanese local elections.{{Cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/11/26/1139270577/taiwan-election-president-resigns-china |title=Taiwan's president resigns as party leader after election losses |date=2022-11-26 |accessdate=2022-11-26 |language=en-US |publisher=NPR |archive-date=26 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221126151236/https://www.npr.org/2022/11/26/1139270577/taiwan-election-president-resigns-china |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Lin |first1=Sean |title=Election 2022/President Tsai resigns as DPP chairperson after election setback |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202211260031 |access-date=26 November 2022 |agency=Central News Agency |date=26 November 2022 |archive-date=26 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221126140221/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202211260031 |url-status=live }} {{cite news |last1=Lin |first1=Sean |last2=Yeh |first2=Joseph |last3=Kao |first3=Evelyn |title=Elections 2022/President Tsai resigns as DPP chairperson after election setback |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202211260034 |access-date=26 November 2022 |agency=Central News Agency |date=26 November 2022 |archive-date=26 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221126151834/http://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202211260034 |url-status=live }}

{{further|2012 Taiwan presidential election}}

On 11 March 2011, Tsai Ing-wen officially announced her run for the presidential nomination of the Democratic Progressive Party.{{cite web |last1=Chao |first1=Vincent Y. |title=Tsai Ing-wen officially launches presidential bid |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2011/03/12/2003497974 |access-date=2 January 2015 |work=Taipei Times |date=12 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102071834/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2011/03/12/2003497974 |archive-date=2 January 2015 |url-status=live }} On 27 April 2011, Tsai became the first female presidential candidate in Taiwan after she defeated former Premier Su Tseng-chang by a small margin in a nationwide phone poll (of more than 15,000 samples) that served as the party's primary. Tsai ran against incumbent President Ma Ying-jeou of the Kuomintang and James Soong of the People First Party in the 5th direct presidential election, which was held on 14 January 2012.{{cite web |last1=Mozur |first1=Paul |title=Taiwan Opposition Makes Its Pick |url=https://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748703367004576288973607788208?mod=googlenews_wsj&mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052748703367004576288973607788208.html%3Fmod%3Dgooglenews_wsj |access-date=2 January 2015 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=28 April 2011 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102081355/http://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748703367004576288973607788208?mod=googlenews_wsj&mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052748703367004576288973607788208.html%3Fmod%3Dgooglenews_wsj |archive-date=2 January 2015 |url-status=live }} Garnering 45.63% of the vote, she conceded defeat to President Ma in an international press conference, resigning her seat as Chairman of the DPP.{{cite web |last1=Wang |first1=Chris |title=2012 ELECTIONS: Tsai's defeat surprisingly large |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2012/01/15/2003523272 |access-date=2 January 2015 |work=Taipei Times |date=15 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102071723/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2012/01/15/2003523272 |archive-date=2 January 2015 |url-status=live }}

{{further|2016 Taiwan presidential election}}

File:Taiwan 2016 presidential election (24121358420).jpg

On 15 February 2015, Tsai officially registered for the Democratic Progressive Party's presidential nomination primary.{{cite web |last1=Loa |first1=Iok-sin |title=Tsai Ing-wen makes bid official |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2015/02/16/2003611675 |access-date=16 February 2015 |work=Taipei Times |date=16 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216003536/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2015/02/16/2003611675 |archive-date=16 February 2015 |url-status=live }} Though Lai Ching-te and Su Tseng-chang were seen as likely opponents,{{cite web |last1=Loa |first1=Iok-sin |title=Tsai Ing-wen declares candidacy |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2015/02/15/2003611601 |access-date=26 May 2016 |work=Taipei Times |date=15 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215046/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2015/02/15/2003611601 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=live }} Tsai was the only candidate to run in the primary and the DPP officially nominated her as the presidential candidate on 15 April.{{cite web |last1=Lu |first1=Hsin-hui |last2=Kao |first2=Evelyn |title=DPP to nominate chairwoman to run for president in 2016 |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201504140016.aspx |access-date=15 April 2015 |agency=Central News Agency |date=14 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414191550/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201504140016.aspx |archive-date=14 April 2015 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Yeh |first1=Sophia |last2=Wang |first2=Flor |title=Tsai Ing-wen to run for president as DPP's candidate |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201504150014.aspx |access-date=15 April 2015 |agency=Central News Agency |date=15 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150415224759/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201504150014.aspx |archive-date=15 April 2015 |url-status=live }}

During summer of 2015, Tsai embarked on a visit to the United States and met a number of US policy makers including Senators John McCain and Jack Reed.{{cite web |last1=Fuchs |first1=Chris |title=Tsai Ing-wen greets about 1,000 in NYC|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/06/07/2003620128 |access-date=8 June 2015 |work=Taipei Times |date=7 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611032739/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/06/07/2003620128 |archive-date=11 June 2015 |url-status=live }} In her speech addressing Taiwanese diaspora on the east coast of the United States, Tsai signaled a willingness to cooperate with the rising Third Party coalition in Taiwan in the incoming general election.{{cite web |last1=Loa |first1=Iok-sin |title=Tsai signals more space for third-party hopefuls |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/06/07/2003620129 |access-date=8 June 2015 |work=Taipei Times |agency=Taipei Times |date=7 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724182708/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/06/07/2003620129 |archive-date=24 July 2015 |url-status=live }} On 14 November, Tsai's campaign announced that she had chosen Chen Chien-jen as DPP vice presidential candidate.{{cite web |last1=Chen |first1=Chi-fon |last2=Chen |first2=Chi-chung |last3=Wu |first3=Lilian |title=Academia Sinica VP confirmed as running mate of Tsai Ing-wen |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201511140012.aspx |access-date=15 November 2015 |agency=Central News Agency |date=14 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115234414/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201511140012.aspx |archive-date=15 November 2015 |url-status=live }} On 16 January 2016, Tsai won the presidential election, beating her opponent Eric Chu by a margin of 25.04%. Tsai was inaugurated as president on 20 May 2016.{{cite news |title=Taiwan swears in Tsai Ing-wen as first female president |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20160520-taiwan-first-female-president-inauguration-tsai-ing-wen |access-date=20 March 2022 |work=France 24 |date=20 May 2016 |language=en |archive-date=20 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320135328/https://www.france24.com/en/20160520-taiwan-first-female-president-inauguration-tsai-ing-wen |url-status=live }}

After her election, Tsai was named one of "The 100 Most Influential People" in TIME magazine 2 May 2016 issue.{{cite magazine |last1=Lai |first1=Jimmy |title=Tsai Ing-wen |magazine=TIME |date=21 April 2016 |issue=2 May 2016 vol 187 No 16&17 |url=http://time.com/4301572/tsai-ing-wen-2016-time-100/ |access-date=4 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161206051610/http://time.com/4301572/tsai-ing-wen-2016-time-100/ |archive-date=6 December 2016 |url-status=live }}

{{Further|2020 Taiwan presidential election}}

Tsai announced on 19 February 2019 via an interview with CNN that she would run for reelection as president in 2020.{{cite news |last1=Chen |first1=Christie |title=President Tsai says she intends to run for re-election in 2020 |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201902190014.aspx |access-date=19 February 2019 |agency=Central News Agency |date=19 February 2019 |archive-date=19 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219115109/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201902190014.aspx |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Rivers |first1=Matt |last2=Jiang |first2=Steven |title=Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will run for re-election in 2020 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/19/asia/tsai-ingwen-taiwan-2020-intl/index.html |access-date=19 February 2019 |publisher=CNN |date=19 February 2019 |archive-date=19 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219090813/https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/19/asia/tsai-ingwen-taiwan-2020-intl/index.html |url-status=live }} She registered to run in the Democratic Progressive Party presidential primary on 21 March 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/hx-03212019100840.html|title=蔡英文"不顾北京反对" 登记总统初选|publisher=rfa.org|date=21 March 2019|language=zh|access-date=15 April 2019|archive-date=10 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310225505/https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/hx-03212019100840.html|url-status=live}} Tsai defeated Lai Ching-te in the primary, and the Democratic Progressive Party nominated her as its candidate for the 2020 presidential election on 19 June 2019.{{cite news |last1=Yeh |first1=Su-ping |last2=Elizabeth |first2=Hsu |title=DPP to officially nominate Tsai as candidate in 2020 election |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201906180019.aspx |access-date=19 June 2019 |agency=Central News Agency |date=18 June 2019 |archive-date=18 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618162545/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201906180019.aspx |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Ku |first1=Chuan |last2=Yeh |first2=Su-ping |last3=Lim |first3=Emerson |title=DPP formally backs Tsai Ing-wen as 2020 presidential nominee |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201906190014.aspx |access-date=19 June 2019 |agency=Central News Agency |date=19 June 2019 |archive-date=19 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190619123047/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201906190014.aspx |url-status=live }} Tsai and Lai formed the Democratic Progressive Party ticket on 17 November 2019.{{cite news |last1=Ku |first1=Chuan |last2=Yeh |first2=Su-ping |last3=Hsu |first3=Elizabeth |title=Tsai-Lai presidential ticket formally formed |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201911170002.aspx |access-date=17 November 2019 |agency=Central News Agency |date=17 November 2019 |archive-date=17 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117021211/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201911170002.aspx |url-status=live }}

File:2016年5月20日總統就職 09.jpg's President Horacio Cartes in Taiwan, 20 May 2016]]File:2016年5月20日總統就職 10.jpg and President Tsai, 20 May 2016]]

{{main|Presidency of Tsai Ing-wen}}

In the inauguration speech for her first term, Tsai stated policy goals such as pension reform, long-term care for the elderly, transitional justice, and judicial reform. She outlined an economic policy of diversification via the New Southbound Policy as well as prioritization of innovative industries. In terms of cross-strait policy, she acknowledged the 1992 Consensus without agreeing to it and called for continued cross-strait dialogue.{{cite web|url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/201605200008|title=Full text of President Tsai's inaugural address|date=May 20, 2016|access-date=May 20, 2020|work=Central News Agency|archive-date=19 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519023056/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/201605200008|url-status=live}}

In her second inauguration speech, Tsai outlined her major goals in her second term, including instituting a lay judge system, lowering the voting age from 20 to 18, and establishing a human rights commission under the Control Yuan. She also outlined her economic policy, which included transitioning from manufacturing to high-tech industries, with a focus on existing semiconductor and information and communications technology industries, cybersecurity, biotechnology and healthcare, domestic production of military equipment, green energy and strategically-critical industries. She proposed goals for defense reform, including a focus on asymmetric warfare, maintenance of a military reserve force, and reform in management to reflect a democratic society. On cross-strait issues, she explicitly rejected the one country, two systems model proposed by Beijing and expressed a desire for both sides to coexist peacefully.{{cite web|url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202005200003|title=Full text of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's second-term inaugural address|date=May 20, 2020|access-date=May 20, 2020|work=Central News Agency|archive-date=25 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525172447/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202005200003|url-status=live}}

File:總統出席「陸軍官校92校慶典禮」 (27092306254).jpg, 16 June 2016]]

During President Tsai's second term, Taiwan increased its military spending as a share of GDP, rising from 2% in 2017–2019 to 2.5% by 2023, with annual defense expenditures reaching NT$600 billion in 2024.{{cite news|url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/paper/1657431|title=我國防預算大幅成長 10年增7成|work=Liberty Times|language=zh|date=19 July 2024|access-date=7 May 2025}}

The administration also focused on defensive self-sufficiency and the development of indigenous industries, including submarines{{cite news|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201808060012.aspx|title=Taiwan allocates 21.3% of proposed defense budget to indigenous arms|work=Central News Agency|date=6 August 2018|last=Shih|first=Hsiu-chuan|access-date=16 October 2019|archive-date=16 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016183657/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201808060012.aspx|url-status=live}} and missiles.{{cite news|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3085662/taiwan-fire-missile-programme-tsai-puts-focus-asymmetric|title=Taiwan to fire up missile programme as Tsai puts focus on asymmetric warfare against mainland China|last=Chung|first=Lawrence|work=South China Morning Post|date=May 23, 2020|access-date=May 24, 2020|archive-date=24 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524032422/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3085662/taiwan-fire-missile-programme-tsai-puts-focus-asymmetric|url-status=live}} The AIDC T-5 Brave Eagle indigenous jet trainer, which started development in 2017, successfully conducted its first test flight in 2020.{{cite news |last1=Su |first1=Mu-chuan |last2=Yeh |first2=Joseph |title=New indigenous trainer jet conducts first test flight in Taichung |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202006100008 |access-date=10 June 2020 |work=Central News Agency (Taiwan) |date=10 June 2020 |archive-date=10 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610072457/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202006100008 |url-status=live }} On 29 June 2020, Tsai announced measures to shore up Taiwan's military reserves, including assigning them the same combat gear as active servicemembers and synchronization of mobilization.{{cite news |last1=Yu |first1=Matt |last2=Lim |first2=Emerton |title=President announces measures to strengthen military reserves |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202006290024 |access-date=29 June 2020 |work=Central News Agency (Taiwan) |date=29 June 2020 |archive-date=1 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701202553/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202006290024 |url-status=live }} The first domestically-produced rapid mine-laying ship was delivered on 4 August 2020,{{cite news |last1=Chen |first1=Yun-yu |last2=Hsu |first2=Elizabeth |title=Taiwan Navy launches first locally-built rapid mine-laying vessel |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202008040023 |access-date=5 August 2020 |work=Central News Agency (Taiwan) |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806074630/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202008040023 |url-status=live }} and construction on an indigenous diesel submarine began in November 2020.{{cite news |last1=Matt |first1=Yu |last2=Matthew |first2=Mazzetta |title=Taiwan begins construction of first indigenous submarine |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202011240017 |access-date=25 November 2020 |work=Central News Agency |date=24 November 2020 |archive-date=24 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124203103/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202011240017 |url-status=live }} The navy's first indigenous amphibious transport dock was launched on 13 April 2021; named Yu Shan after Taiwan's highest mountain and built by CSBC, it was intended to replace the aging ROCN Hsu Hai (formerly the USS Pensacola).{{cite news |last1=Yu |first1=Matt |last2=Yeh |first2=Joseph |title=Taiwan's 1st indigenous landing platform dock a national milestone: Tsai |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202104130011 |access-date=13 April 2021 |work=Central News Agency (Taiwan) |date=13 April 2021 |archive-date=13 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413152553/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202104130011 |url-status=live }}

On 11 March 2022, a special force soldier wrote to Tsai, reporting that insufficient supply and logistical planning compelled combatants to purchase equipment from outside suppliers at their own expense for two years. Such equipment was subsequently disqualified as non-standard upon inspection, in contrast of the reserve trainees receiving new sets of equipment. The soldier also appealed to abolish the mandatory diary writing for examination.{{Cite web |title=特戰兵寫信給總統 有怎樣三軍統帥就有怎樣國軍 |trans-title=Special Force soldier wrote to President: "Like such a military commander, like such an army." |url=https://udn.com/news/story/10930/6175211 |last=Bai |first=Hsi-keng |date=18 March 2022 |access-date=8 April 2022 |publisher=United Daily News |language=zh-TW |location=New Taipei City |archive-date=25 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525162741/https://udn.com/news/story/10930/6175211 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=「裝備自購教召用全新」特戰兵怒嗆蔡英文 網看末段驚：整個連要起飛 |trans-title="Self-help purchasing equipment while the reserve trainees receiving new sets", Special Force soldier complained to President Tsai |url=https://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20220318004557-260405?chdtv |last1=Lin |first1=Yi |last2=Fan |first2=Yang-guang |date=18 March 2022 |access-date=8 April 2022 |publisher=China Times |language=zh-TW |location=Taipei |archive-date=25 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525182921/https://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20220318004557-260405?chdtv |url-status=live }} The classified "2022006470" document was somehow illegally leaked from the presidential office to the media with his identity exposed on 18 March. In response, Minister of National Defense, Chiu Kuo-cheng stated: "I will not let him get away with it", "Fix the crying baby!" When questioned by members of the Legislative Yuan, Chiu clarified that he was disgusted by what he considered cowardly behavior, and that the soldier's critiques were unfair to the preparatory staff.{{Cite web |title=特戰兵寫信向總統陳情 邱國正烙狠話「不會放過他」 |trans-title=Special Force soldier wrote a letter appealing to the President, Chiu harshly responds "won't let him get away with it." |url=https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E7%89%B9%E6%88%B0%E5%85%B5%E5%AF%AB%E4%BF%A1%E5%90%91%E7%B8%BD%E7%B5%B1%E9%99%B3%E6%83%85-%E9%82%B1%E5%9C%8B%E6%AD%A3%E7%83%99%E7%8B%A0%E8%A9%B1-%E4%B8%8D%E6%9C%83%E6%94%BE%E9%81%8E%E4%BB%96-101727831.html |work=解讀國軍軍事聞 |date=23 March 2022 |access-date=8 April 2022 |publisher=BCC News Radio |via=Yahoo! News Taiwan |language=zh-TW |location=Taipei |archive-date=25 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525220859/https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E7%89%B9%E6%88%B0%E5%85%B5%E5%AF%AB%E4%BF%A1%E5%90%91%E7%B8%BD%E7%B5%B1%E9%99%B3%E6%83%85-%E9%82%B1%E5%9C%8B%E6%AD%A3%E7%83%99%E7%8B%A0%E8%A9%B1-%E4%B8%8D%E6%9C%83%E6%94%BE%E9%81%8E%E4%BB%96-101727831.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=特戰兵向小英告狀裝備爛 邱國正撂話要修理「靠北」的人 |trans-title=Special Force soldier complained about the bad equipment to the President; Chiu gives the words: "Fix the crying baby." |url=https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E7%89%B9%E6%88%B0%E5%85%B5%E5%90%91%E5%B0%8F%E8%8B%B1%E5%91%8A%E7%8B%80%E8%A3%9D%E5%82%99%E7%88%9B-%E9%82%B1%E5%9C%8B%E6%AD%A3%E6%92%82%E8%A9%B1%E8%A6%81%E4%BF%AE%E7%90%86-%E9%9D%A0%E5%8C%97-%E7%9A%84%E4%BA%BA-%E7%B6%B2%E9%85%B8-103036215.html |work=政治中心綜合報導 |date=23 March 2022 |access-date=8 April 2022 |publisher=Taiwanhot |via=Yahoo! News Taiwan |language=zh-TW |location=Taipei |archive-date=30 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330043708/https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E7%89%B9%E6%88%B0%E5%85%B5%E5%90%91%E5%B0%8F%E8%8B%B1%E5%91%8A%E7%8B%80%E8%A3%9D%E5%82%99%E7%88%9B-%E9%82%B1%E5%9C%8B%E6%AD%A3%E6%92%82%E8%A9%B1%E8%A6%81%E4%BF%AE%E7%90%86-%E9%9D%A0%E5%8C%97-%E7%9A%84%E4%BA%BA-%E7%B6%B2%E9%85%B8-103036215.html |url-status=live }} The case raised concern on the standard operating procedure regarding data security breaches affecting the presidential office.{{Cite web |title=特戰兵向蔡英文陳情！身分內容竟遭總統府曝光 官員憂：恐引發國安危機 |trans-title=Special Force soldier complained to President Tsai! His identity was exposed by the presidential palace. Official concerns: "It may lead to the national security crisis" |url=https://rwnews.tw/Article/Detail/2858 |last=Wang |first=Jiong-hua |date=25 March 2022 |access-date=8 April 2022 |publisher=RW News |language=zh-TW |location=Taipei |archive-date=9 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220509054357/https://rwnews.tw/Article/Detail/2858 |url-status=live }}

In December 2022, Tsai announced the extension of compulsory military service from four months to one year, a policy set to take effect in 2024.{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-politics-china-tsai-ing-wen-7a5cef695fa4b3585411921c19d91606|title=Taiwan extends compulsory military service to 1 year|work=AP News|date=28 December 2022|access-date=7 May 2025}}

File:01.11 總統出席尼國總統奧德嘉(José Daniel Ortega Saavedra)就職典禮，與尼國總統奧德嘉寒暄 (31429913323).jpg, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Salvadoran President Salvador Sánchez Cerén in 2017]]

File:10.30 總統抵達馬紹爾群島共和國，由海妮（Hilda C. Heine）總統陪同沿紅地毯前進，接受兩側馬國國家警察儀隊致敬 (37980845986).jpg President Hilda Heine in October 2017]]

Under Tsai, ten countries which had formally recognized the Republic of China (ROC) switched recognition to the People's Republic of China (PRC): São Tomé and Príncipe in 2016; Panama in 2017; the Dominican Republic, Burkina Faso and El Salvador in 2018; the Solomon Islands and Kiribati in 2019; Nicaragua in 2021; Honduras in 2023; and Nauru in 2024.{{cite web|url=https://globaltaiwan.org/2024/08/why-countries-abandon-taiwan-indicators-for-a-diplomatic-switch/|title=Why Countries Abandon Taiwan: Indicators for a Diplomatic Switch|website=Global Taiwan Institute|last=Bock|first=Jonah|date=21 August 2024|access-date=7 May 2025}}{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/25/asia/honduras-cuts-diplomatic-ties-with-taiwan-intl-hnk/index.html|title=Honduras establishes diplomatic ties with China, severs them with Taiwan|work=CNN|date=26 March 2023|access-date=7 May 2025}} This continued a trend that was temporarily halted under an unofficial "diplomatic truce" during the Ma Ying-jeou administration where the PRC ceased to court official diplomatic allies of the ROC.{{cite news |last1=Zheng |first1=Sarah |title=Re-elect President Tsai Ing-wen in 2020 and Taiwan will lose all its allies, Beijing warns |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3027673/re-elect-president-tsai-ing-wen-2020-and-taiwan-will-lose-all |access-date=4 November 2021 |work=South China Morning Post |date=17 September 2019 |archive-date=4 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104043815/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3027673/re-elect-president-tsai-ing-wen-2020-and-taiwan-will-lose-all |url-status=live }} Since 2017, Taiwan has also been excluded from participating in the World Health Assembly.{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2024/05/27/2003818463|title=Hsiao calls for Taiwan WHA inclusion|work=Taipei Times|date=27 May 2024|access-date=7 May 2025}}

At the same time, the Tsai administration saw breakthroughs in Taiwan's unofficial relations with the United States and the European Union. On 9 August 2020, the United States Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar of the Trump administration became the highest-level Cabinet member to visit Taiwan since the diplomatic break between the ROC and the United States in 1979.{{cite web |title=HHS Secretary Alex Azar to Lead Delegation to Taiwan in First Visit by a U.S. HHS Secretary |url=https://www.ait.org.tw/hhs-secretary-alex-azar-to-lead-delegation-to-taiwan-in-first-visit-by-a-u-s-hhs-secretary/ |website=American Institute in Taiwan |date=5 August 2020 |access-date=4 November 2021 |archive-date=2 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202062233/https://www.ait.org.tw/hhs-secretary-alex-azar-to-lead-delegation-to-taiwan-in-first-visit-by-a-u-s-hhs-secretary/ |url-status=live }} In April 2021, the United States ambassador to Palau made an official visit to Taiwan, the first time a US ambassador had done so since the US switched recognition from the ROC to the PRC in 1979.{{cite web |last1=Albert |first1=Eleanor |title=US Ambassador Makes First Visit to Taiwan in More Than 40 Years |url=https://thediplomat.com/2021/04/us-ambassador-makes-first-visit-to-taiwan-in-more-than-40-years/ |website=The Diplomat |access-date=4 November 2021 |archive-date=4 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104043816/https://thediplomat.com/2021/04/us-ambassador-makes-first-visit-to-taiwan-in-more-than-40-years/ |url-status=live }} In the same month, the United States President Joe Biden also sent an official delegation including former senator Chris Dodd to Taiwan.{{cite news |last1=Brunnstrom |first1=David |last2=Martina |first2=Michael |title=Biden sends unofficial delegation to Taiwan in 'personal signal' |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/biden-sends-unofficial-delegation-taiwan-underscore-commitment-white-house-2021-04-13/ |access-date=4 November 2021 |work=Reuters |archive-date=4 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104043814/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/biden-sends-unofficial-delegation-taiwan-underscore-commitment-white-house-2021-04-13/ |url-status=live }}

On November 3, 2021 the first official European Union delegation arrived in Taiwan led by French MEP Raphael Glucksmann, and consisting of Lithuanian MEPs Andrius Kubilius and Petras Auštrevičius, Czech MEP Markéta Gregorová, Austrian MEP Andreas Schieder, Greek MEP Giorgos Kyrtsos and Italian MEP Marco Dreosto, with the purpose of conducting exchanges on disinformation and cyber attacks against democracies.{{cite news |last1=Hale |first1=Erin |title=EU legislators make historic visit to Taiwan amid China concerns |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/3/eu-legislators-make-historic-visit-to-taiwan-amid-china-concerns |access-date=4 November 2021 |work=Al Jazeera |date=3 November 2021 |archive-date=3 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211103213736/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/3/eu-legislators-make-historic-visit-to-taiwan-amid-china-concerns |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Tang |first1=Pei-chun |last2=Chung |first2=Yu-chen |last3=Teng |first3=Pei-ju |last4=Low |first4=Y. F. |title=European Parliament delegation arrives in Taiwan for 3-day visit |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202111030002 |access-date=4 November 2021 |work=Central News Agency (Taiwan) |archive-date=4 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104043816/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202111030002 |url-status=live }} The visit followed an official tour of Central Europe by foreign minister Joseph Wu which included an unofficial visit to Brussels.{{cite news |last1=Lau |first1=Stuart |last2=Kijewski |first2=Leonie |title=Taiwanese minister's covert trip to Brussels adds to EU-China tensions |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/joseph-wu-taiwan-brussels-beijing-czech-republic-slovakia-diplomacy/ |access-date=4 November 2021 |work=Politico |date=27 October 2021 |archive-date=4 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104043814/https://www.politico.eu/article/joseph-wu-taiwan-brussels-beijing-czech-republic-slovakia-diplomacy/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Wu |first1=Sarah |title='You are not alone': EU Parliament delegation tells Taiwan on first official visit |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/you-are-not-alone-eu-parliament-delegation-tells-taiwan-first-official-visit-2021-11-04/ |website=Reuters |date=4 November 2021 |access-date=2 June 2023}} The Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania was inaugurated in November 2021, followed by the establishment of a Lithuanian Trade Representative Office in Taiwan the following year.{{cite news|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/19/taiwan-opens-lithuania-office-as-china-condemns-egregious-move|title=Taiwan opens Lithuania office as China condemns 'egregious' move|work=Al Jazeera|date=19 November 2021|access-date=7 May 2025}}{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2022/11/08/2003788461|title=Lithuania opens Taiwan trade office as its China ties sour|work=Taipei Times|date=8 November 2022|access-date=7 May 2025}}

On August 2, 2022, U.S. House speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan with a delegation of 6 Democratic representatives, the first since a visit by Newt Gingrich in 1997, and the highest-profile visit since. The PRC responded with several days of military exercises around Taiwan.

On March 25, 2023, an official delegation of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic, led by Markéta Pekarová Adamová, visited Taiwan to conduct exchanges on trade, cultural, and academic exchanges.{{cite web |title=Speaker of Czech parliament's lower house to visit Taiwan |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/speaker-czech-parliaments-lower-house-visit-taiwan-97984591 |publisher=ABC News |access-date=2 June 2023}}

During her first inauguration speech, Tsai acknowledged that the talks surrounding the 1992 Summit took place but does not agree that a "consensus" was ever reached by both sides. She credited the talks with spurring 20 years of dialogue and exchange between the two sides. She hoped that exchanges would continue on the basis of these historical facts, as well as the existence of the Republic of China constitutional system and democratic will of the Taiwanese people. In response, Beijing called Tsai's answer an "incomplete test paper" because Tsai did not agree to the content of the 1992 Consensus.{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/05/21/2003646796|title=Tsai's inauguration speech 'incomplete test paper': Beijing|work=Taipei Times|date=May 21, 2016|access-date=May 20, 2020|archive-date=7 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607072245/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/05/21/2003646796|url-status=live}} On 25 June 2016, Beijing suspended official cross-strait communications,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/26/world/asia/china-suspends-diplomatic-contact-with-taiwan.html|title=China Suspends Diplomatic Contact With Taiwan|work=The New York Times|last=Hernández|first=Javier C.|access-date=May 20, 2020|date=June 25, 2016|archive-date=30 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200430122206/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/26/world/asia/china-suspends-diplomatic-contact-with-taiwan.html|url-status=live}} with any remaining cross-strait exchanges thereafter taking place through unofficial channels.{{cite news|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/cross-strait-chill-freezes-out-taiwan-in-its-efforts-to-deal-with-coronavirus|title=Cross-strait chill freezes out Taiwan in its efforts to deal with coronavirus outbreak|work=The Straits Times|date=February 4, 2020|last=Goh|first=Sui Noi|access-date=May 20, 2020|archive-date=7 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607072241/https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/cross-strait-chill-freezes-out-taiwan-in-its-efforts-to-deal-with-coronavirus|url-status=live}}

On National Day in 2016, Tsai stated the New Four Noes: "our pledges will not change, and our goodwill will not change; but we will not bow to pressure, and we will of course not revert to the old path of confrontation".{{Cite book |last=Xin |first=Qiang |title=The Taiwan Question in Xi Jinping's Era: Beijing's Evolving Taiwan Policy and Taiwan's Internal and External Dynamics |last2= |first2= |publisher=Routledge |year=2024 |isbn=9781032861661 |editor-last=Zhao |editor-first=Suisheng |editor-link=Suisheng Zhao |location=London and New York |pages= |chapter=Selective Engagement: Mainland China's Dual-Track Taiwan Policy |doi=}}{{Rp|page=66}}

In January 2019, Xi Jinping, the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), wrote an open letter to Taiwan, proposing a one country, two systems formula for eventual unification. Tsai responded to Xi in a January 2019 speech by stating that Taiwan rejects "one country, two systems" and that because Beijing equates the 1992 Consensus with "one country, two systems", Taiwan rejects the 1992 Consensus as well. During her second inauguration speech, Tsai rejected one country, two systems explicitly again and reaffirmed her previous stance that cross-strait exchanges should be held on the basis of parity between the two sides. She further remarked that cross-strait relations had reached a "historical turning point."

During her 2021 National Day speech, President Tsai rejected the idea of "complete unification of Chinese motherland" through peaceful unification under "One country, two systems" proposed by the Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the 72nd Anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Tsai stated her commitment to the principle that the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China should not be subordinate to each other.{{cite web|url=https://english.president.gov.tw/News/6175|title=President Tsai delivers 2021 National Day Address|website=Office of the President|date=10 October 2021|access-date=7 May 2025}}

File:04.02 總統視察「中央流行疫情指揮中心」 49726568957 66543b616e o.jpg]]

{{main|COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan}}

The Tsai administration oversaw Taiwan's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Central Epidemic Command Center was activated on January 20, 2020, and deactivated May 1, 2023.{{cite news |last1=Lee |first1=I-chia |last2=Shan |first2=Shelley |title=Epidemic response command center set up |url=http://taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2020/01/21/2003729605 |access-date=5 March 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=21 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401230455/http://taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2020/01/21/2003729605 |archive-date=1 April 2020 |url-status=live }}{{cite press release |author= |title=Effective May 1, COVID-19 to be downgraded to Category 4 notifiable communicable disease and CECC to disband; Ministry of Health and Welfare to take charge of relevant preparation and response work |url=https://www.cdc.gov.tw/En/Bulletin/Detail/FW_1qpr_nCJoo0X1X5oDCw?typeid=158 |agency=Taiwan Centers for Disease Control |date=25 April 2023 |access-date=2 May 2023}} The Tsai administration increased domestic mask production during the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak and later donated masks to other countries.{{cite news|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/3891193|title=Taiwan sets up 60 face mask production lines in a month|work=Taiwan News|date=6 March 2020|access-date=11 May 2025}}{{cite news|url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202004070012|title=Taiwan to donate over 1 million masks to New Southbound countries|work=Central News Agency|date=April 7, 2020|access-date=April 7, 2020|last1=Chen|first1=Yun-yu|last2=Ko|first2=Lin|archive-date=7 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407235954/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202004070012|url-status=live}}

{{further|New Southbound Policy}}

The New Southbound Policy was launched on 5 September 2016 with the intent to make Taiwan less dependent on Mainland China and to improve Taiwan's cooperation with other countries.{{cite web|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/11/01/2003658346|first1=Yi-hsuan|last1=Lu|first2=Jake|last2=Chung|date=1 November 2016|title=Task force to help promote the 'new southbound policy'|work=Taipei Times|access-date=1 November 2016|archive-date=1 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161101101931/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/11/01/2003658346|url-status=live}} The 18 countries the New Southbound Policy targeted for increased cooperation are: Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Australia and New Zealand.{{Cite web | title = New Southbound Policy Portal | url = https://nspp.mofa.gov.tw/nsppe/ | access-date = 20 June 2018 | archive-date = 20 June 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180620101226/https://nspp.mofa.gov.tw/nsppe/ | url-status = live }} The policy designated areas of cooperation in trade, technology, agriculture, medicine, education, and tourism. In mid-2019, the Taiwanese government announced that since the implementation of the policy, bilateral trade between Taiwan and the targeted countries increased by 22%, while investment by targeted countries increased by 60%. Further, the number of medical patients from targeted countries increased by 50%, the number of visitors increased by 58%, and the number of students increased by 52%.{{cite news|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201905300019.aspx|title=President touts New Southbound Policy achievements|work=Central News Agency|date=30 May 2019|access-date=10 October 2019|last1=Liao|first1=Yu-yang|last2=Kao|first2=Evelyn|archive-date=5 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905010431/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201905300019.aspx|url-status=live}}

On 28 August 2020, the Tsai administration lifted a ban on leaning agent ractopamine, clearing the way for U.S. pork imports and removing a major hurdle for bilateral trade talks between Taiwan and the United States.{{cite news |last1=Shike |first1=Jennifer |title=Taiwan Lifts Ban on Ractopamine in U.S. Pork Imports |url=https://www.porkbusiness.com/news/hog-production/taiwan-lifts-ban-ractopamine-us-pork-imports |newspaper=Pork Business |date=28 August 2020 |publisher=FarmJournal |access-date=2 June 2023}} This move proved controversial domestically, and a referendum to reinstate the ban was defeated in 2021.{{cite web |title=Taiwan set for contentious referendum on US pork imports |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/12/17/taiwan-set-for-contentious-referendum-on-us-pork-imports |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=2 June 2023 |archive-date=2 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602052532/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/12/17/taiwan-set-for-contentious-referendum-on-us-pork-imports |url-status=live }} On 1 June 2022, Taiwan and the United States established a trade negotiation framework titled the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade.{{cite web |title=United States and Taiwan Announce the Launch of the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade |url=https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2022/june/united-states-and-taiwan-announce-launch-us-taiwan-initiative-21st-century-trade |website=Office of the United States Trade Representative|date=1 June 2022}} In 2023, an initial trade agreement was signed under this framework, which streamlined customs regulations, established common regulatory practices, and introduced anti-corruption measures,{{cite web |last1=Wen |first1=Kuei-hsiang |last2=Teng |first2=Pei-ju |title=Taiwan, U.S. ink agreement under bilateral trade initiative (update) |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/business/202306020002 |website=Focus Taiwan |date=2 June 2023 |access-date=2 June 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Liang |first1=Annabelle |title=US-Taiwan relations: New trade deal signed as China tensions rise |work=BBC News |date=June 2023 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-65773797 |access-date=2 June 2023}} with further measures still in discussion.{{cite news |title=U.S., Taiwan reach deal on first part of '21st Century' trade pact -USTR |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-trade-taiwan-idAFL1N37F2YW |website=Reuters |date=18 May 2023 |access-date=3 June 2023}}

File:05.23 總統參訪「海洋示範風場」 (47933180468).jpg demonstration site]]

{{further|Energy in Taiwan}}

The Tsai administration has stated an electricity supply goal of 20% from renewables, 30% from coal and 50% from liquefied natural gas by 2025.{{cite news|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201808020014.aspx|title=Returning to nuclear energy 'specious,' 'outworn': president|date=2 August 2018|work=Central News Agency|last=Shih|first=Hsiu-chuan|access-date=19 November 2019|archive-date=21 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191121090632/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201808020014.aspx|url-status=live}}

The government approved amendments to the Electricity Act on 20 October 2016 to break up the state-owned monopoly Taipower into subsidiaries and further liberalize the power sector by allowing companies to sell electricity to users directly rather than selling through Taipower. In particular, the generation and distribution divisions of Taipower are to be separated. Amongst the stated motivations for liberalisation was to allow for the direct purchase of green energy by consumers.{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/10/21/2003657595|title=Cabinet approves Taipower break-up|work=Taipei Times|last=Chen|first=Wei-han|date=21 October 2016|access-date=29 October 2019|archive-date=29 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029044548/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/10/21/2003657595|url-status=live}} The plan also included emissions controls, the creation of a regulatory agency, mandatory reserve margins (waived for start-up green energy companies), and measures for price stabilization.{{cite journal|last1= Johnson|first1= Blaine|date= 17 October 2018|title= Denuclearization and Diversification: Energy Security and Taiwan's Electric Grid under Transition|url= http://globaltaiwan.org/2018/10/vol-3-issue-20/|journal= Global Taiwan Brief|volume= 3|issue= 20|access-date= 29 October 2019|archive-date= 29 October 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191029051629/http://globaltaiwan.org/2018/10/vol-3-issue-20/|url-status= live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.takassocies.com/single-post/2017/01/16/Major-Amendments-to-the-Taiwan-Electricity-Act-2017|title=Major Amendments to the Taiwan Electricity Act (2017)|date=15 January 2017|work=TAK ASSOCIES - ECOVIS|access-date=29 October 2019|archive-date=29 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029051630/https://www.takassocies.com/single-post/2017/01/16/Major-Amendments-to-the-Taiwan-Electricity-Act-2017|url-status=dead}} The plan was met with protests by Taipower employees.{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/09/20/2003655484|work=Taipei Times|last=Chen|first=Wei-han|date=20 September 2016|access-date=29 October 2019|title=Taipower workers protest energy liberalization plan|archive-date=29 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029044550/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/09/20/2003655484|url-status=live}}

Tsai campaigned on a promise to make Taiwan nuclear-free by 2025, which was codified into law on 11 January 2017 via amendments to the Electricity Act. An energy blackout due to an unrelated operational mistake have led some to question the nuclear phase-out.{{cite news|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/2107478/taiwan-blackouts-cast-long-shadow-over-leaders-plans-nuclear-free-future|date=20 August 2017|title=Taiwan blackouts cast long shadow over leader's plans for nuclear-free future|last=Chung|first=Lawrence|access-date=19 November 2019|work=South China Morning Post|archive-date=15 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215175242/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/2107478/taiwan-blackouts-cast-long-shadow-over-leaders-plans-nuclear-free-future|url-status=live}} According to the results of the 2018 referendum, this provision was abolished on 7 May 2019.{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2019/05/08/2003714760|title=Provision on halting nuclear power plants removed|work=Taipei Times|last=Lin|first=Sean|date=8 May 2019|access-date=19 November 2019|archive-date=21 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191121163039/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2019/05/08/2003714760|url-status=live}} Nonetheless, the administration maintained its goal of phasing out nuclear energy.{{cite news|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201811290014.aspx|title=Taiwan's goal to become nuclear free remains unchanged: President Tsai|last1=Lu|first1=Hsin-hui|last2=Kao|first2=Evelyn|work=Central News Agency|access-date=19 November 2019|archive-date=20 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191120031210/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201811290014.aspx|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://topics.amcham.com.tw/2019/09/nuclear-power-faces-2025-deadline/|title=Despite Referendum, Nuclear Power Faces 2025 Deadline|last=Ferry|first=Timothy|work=Taiwan Business TOPICS|date=12 September 2019|access-date=19 November 2019|archive-date=10 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310225551/https://topics.amcham.com.tw/2019/09/nuclear-power-faces-2025-deadline/|url-status=live}} Without renewing the licenses of the three remaining nuclear power plants, which were set to expire after 40 years, the Jinshan Nuclear Power Plant was shut down in July 2019,{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2019/07/13/2003718586|title=AEC approves Taipower's Jinshan decommission plan|work=Taipei Times|date=13 July 2019|access-date=11 May 2025}} followed by the decommissioning of the Kuosheng Nuclear Power Plant in March 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Taiwanese-reactor-enters-retirement|title=Taiwanese reactor enters retirement|website=World Nuclear News|date=14 March 2023|access-date=11 May 2025}} The final nuclear facility, the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant, was scheduled to be shut down in May 2025.{{cite web|url=https://english.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=3452|title=Taiwan's looming 2025 power crunch|website=CommonWealth Magazine|date=28 June 2023|access-date=11 May 2025}}

Bills under the umbrella of the Forward-Looking Infrastructure initiative were used to fund green energy initiatives. The administration planned to install 1,000 wind turbines on land and offshore{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2017/04/13/2003668636|title=Taichung wind plan unveiled|work=Taipei Times|date=13 April 2017|last=Shan|first=Shelley|access-date=17 October 2019|archive-date=17 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017054832/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2017/04/13/2003668636|url-status=live}} and contracted Ørsted of Denmark to install 900 MW of capacity and wpd of Germany to install 1 GW of capacity.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-windpower/offshore-wind-power-firms-see-taiwan-as-a-battleground-to-expand-in-asia-idUSKBN1I11IV|title=Offshore wind power firms see Taiwan as a battleground to expand in Asia|work=Reuters|date=30 April 2018|first=Stine|last=Jacobsen|access-date=17 October 2019|archive-date=17 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017054833/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-windpower/offshore-wind-power-firms-see-taiwan-as-a-battleground-to-expand-in-asia-idUSKBN1I11IV|url-status=live}} Taiwan's first offshore wind farm, Formosa I, consisting of 22 wind turbines expected to produce 128 MW, began operations at the end of 2019.{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2019/10/13/2003723864|title=Swancor says that Formosa 1 wind farm plan on track|work=Taipei Times|date=13 October 2019|access-date=17 October 2019|archive-date=17 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017054210/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2019/10/13/2003723864|url-status=live}} The government also purchased 520 MW of solar capacity in 2017 and more than 1 GW in 2018; total capacity was 2.8 GW at the end of 2018.{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2019/09/27/2003722996|title=Photovoltaics play increasingly vital role in renewable energy plan: premier|work=Taipei Times|last=Lin|first=Sean|date=27 September 2019|access-date=17 October 2019|archive-date=17 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017060215/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2019/09/27/2003722996|url-status=live}} On 30 May 2023, the Renewable Energy Development Act was amended to require solar panels on all new buildings.{{cite web |title=Amendment to require solar panels on new buildings |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/05/30/2003800662 |website=Taipei Times |date=30 May 2023 |access-date=3 June 2023 |archive-date=3 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603074000/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/05/30/2003800662 |url-status=live }}

By the end of 2023, the installed capacity of solar photovoltaic power had reached 12.418 GW, while offshore wind power had reached 1.763 GW.{{cite web|url=https://www.moeaea.gov.tw/ECW/English/news/News.aspx?kind=6&menu_id=958&news_id=33857|title=Ministry of Economic Affairs Releases the 2023 National Electricity Supply and Demand Report|website=Energy Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs|date=12 September 2024|access-date=11 May 2025}} Although the government had originally set a target for renewable energy to account for 20% of electricity generation by 2025, projections were later adjusted, with the revised goal set at 15% by 2025 and 20% by November 2026.

On 5 July 2017, the first Forward-Looking Infrastructure Bill passed the Legislative Yuan. The bill provided $420 billion NTD in funds over a period of 4 years toward infrastructure projects in light-rail infrastructure, water supply infrastructure, flood control measures, and green energy, talent development, urban and rural infrastructure, digital infrastructure and food safety.{{cite news|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aeco/201707050023.aspx|title=Forward-looking infrastructure bill passed|date=5 July 2017|work=Central News Agency|last1=Liu|first1=Kuan-ting|last2=Wang|first2=Cheng-chung|last3=Huang|first3=Frances|access-date=17 October 2018|archive-date=28 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028174835/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aeco/201707050023.aspx|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/taiwan-parliament-approves-funds-for-infrastructure-plan|title=Taiwan Parliament approves funds for infrastructure plan|work=The Straits Times|date=1 September 2017|last=Chow|first=Jermyn|access-date=17 October 2019|archive-date=17 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017054222/https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/taiwan-parliament-approves-funds-for-infrastructure-plan|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2017/05/16/2003670673|title=Committee passes infrastructure bill|work=Taipei Times|date=16 May 2017|last=Kuo|first=Chia-erh|access-date=17 October 2019|archive-date=15 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015191505/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2017/05/16/2003670673|url-status=live}} Other projects include improving road safety and aesthetics, locally oriented industrial parks, recreation centers, bicycle paths, and public service centers for long-term care.{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2018/07/30/2003697649|title=NT$72.7bn infrastructure plan revealed|last1=Lee|first1=Hsin-fang|last2=Hsiao|first2=Sherry|work=Taipei Times|date=30 July 2018|access-date=17 October 2019|archive-date=15 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015191503/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2018/07/30/2003697649|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://english.ey.gov.tw/fli/A9DA889C5D912331|title=Forward-looking infrastructure|website=Executive Yuan, Taiwan R.O.C.|access-date=17 October 2019|date=December 2011|archive-date=10 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010025135/https://english.ey.gov.tw/fli/A9DA889C5D912331|url-status=live}}

File:06.18 總統主持「總統府原住民族歷史正義與轉型正義委員會第10次委員會議」 (48085236393).jpg meeting]]

{{further|Transitional Justice Commission|Ill-gotten Party Assets Settlement Committee}}

The Act on Promoting Transitional Justice was passed by the Legislative Yuan on 5 December 2017. The act sought to rectify injustices committed by the authoritarian Kuomintang government of the Republic of China on Taiwan, and to this end established the Transitional Justice Commission to investigate actions taken from 15 August 1945, the date of the Hirohito surrender broadcast, to 6 November 1992, when president Lee Teng-hui lifted the Temporary Provisions against the Communist Rebellion for Fuchien Province, Republic of China, ending the period of mobilization.{{cite news |last1=Lin |first1=Sean |title=Lawmakers pass transitional justice act |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2017/12/06/2003683504 |access-date=1 June 2018 |work=Taipei Times |date=6 December 2017 |archive-date=22 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922201840/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2017/12/06/2003683504 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Legislature passes bill promoting transitional justice |url=https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=2,6,10,15,18&post=126176 |access-date=1 June 2018 |work=Taiwan Today |date=7 December 2017 |archive-date=16 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416042528/https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=2,6,10,15,18&post=126176 |url-status=live }} This time period, in particular, includes the February 28 Incident as well as White Terror. The committee's main aims include: making political archives more readily available, removing authoritarian symbols, redressing judicial injustice, and producing a report on the history of the period which delineates steps to further promote transitional justice.{{cite news |last1=Shih |first1=Hsiu-chuan |title=Veteran democracy advocate to lead transitional justice work |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201803270025.aspx |access-date=1 June 2018 |agency=Central News Agency |date=27 March 2018 |archive-date=23 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190923045952/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201803270025.aspx |url-status=live }} During its operation, the commission exonerated political criminals from the martial law era, made recommendations on the removal of authoritarian symbols, and declassified government documents from the martial law era.

The Act Governing the Handling of Ill-gotten Properties by Political Parties and Their Affiliate Organizations was passed in July 2016, and Wellington Koo, one of the main authors of the act, was named as the committee chairman in August.{{cite news|title=Koo named head of ill-gotten assets committee|url=http://m.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2016/08/10/475019/Koo-named.htm|access-date=12 August 2016|work=China Post|date=10 August 2016|archive-date=14 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814024914/http://m.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2016/08/10/475019/Koo-named.htm|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last1=Chung|first1=Jake|title=Legislature approves law on ill-gotten party assets|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/07/26/2003651800|access-date=10 August 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=26 July 2016|archive-date=11 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811011222/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/07/26/2003651800|url-status=live}} The stated goal of the act was to investigate state assets which had been illegally transferred to private political parties and their affiliates during the martial law era, and therefore it applied only to political parties officially formed before the end of martial law.{{Cite web |url=https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=A0030286 |title=The Act Governing the Settlement of Ill-gotten Properties by Political Parties and Their Affiliate Organizations - Article Content - Laws & Regulations Database of the Republic of China |access-date=3 March 2021 |archive-date=10 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310225550/https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=A0030286 |url-status=live}} This effectively limited its scope to the KMT, which claimed that it had been illegally and unconstitutionally persecuted, arguing that the investigation was a political witch hunt.{{cite news|last1=Yang|first1=Chun-hui|last2=Lin|first2=Liang-sheng|last3=Chung|first3=Jake|title=Party assets committee to probe China Youth Corps|url=http://m.ltn.com.tw/news/focus/breakingnews/1871081|access-date=9 September 2017|agency=Taipei Times|date=30 October 2016|archive-date=9 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909232740/http://m.ltn.com.tw/news/focus/breakingnews/1871081|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Kuomintang remains Taiwan's richest party with reported assets of S$815 million|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/kuomintang-remains-taiwans-richest-party-with-reported-assets-of-s815-million|access-date=9 September 2017|agency=Straits Times|date=17 July 2017|archive-date=9 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909234938/http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/kuomintang-remains-taiwans-richest-party-with-reported-assets-of-s815-million|url-status=live}} However, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) maintained that the means were necessary for achieving transitional justice and leveling the playing field for all political parties. The committee determined that the China Youth Corps, Central Motion Picture Corp., National Women's League, and the Broadcasting Corporation of China were KMT-affiliated organizations, and either froze their assets or ordered them to forfeit them.{{cite news|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201808070021.aspx|title=China Youth Corps determined to be KMT-affiliated, all assets frozen|date=7 August 2018|last1=Lee|first1=Shu-hua|last2=Hsu|first2=Elizabeth|work=Central News Agency|access-date=10 October 2019|archive-date=10 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010054819/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201808070021.aspx|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201810090029.aspx|title=Motion picture company CMPC designated as KMT affiliate|work=Central News Agency|last1=Yu|first1=Matt|last2=Kao|first2=Evelyn|date=9 October 2018|access-date=10 October 2019|archive-date=10 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010055355/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201810090029.aspx|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201903190019.aspx|title=National Women's League assets belong to state: ruling|work=Central News Agency|date=19 March 2019|last1=Yu|first1=Matt|last2=Hsu|first2=Elizabeth|access-date=10 October 2019|archive-date=10 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010054202/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201903190019.aspx|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2019/09/25/2003722890|title=BCC named affiliate, told to relinquish assets|date=25 September 2019|access-date=10 October 2019|work=Taipei Times|last1=Yang|first1=Chun-hui|last2=Chung|first2=Jake|archive-date=30 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930070225/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2019/09/25/2003722890|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201909240020.aspx|title=Broadcasting company ruled to be KMT affiliate; set to lose assets|date=24 September 2019|last1=Wu|first1=Po-wei|last2=Yeh|first2=Su-ping|last3=Huang|first3=Frances|work=Central News Agency|access-date=10 October 2019|archive-date=26 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926201853/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201909240020.aspx|url-status=live}} The KMT had difficulty paying salaries as its assets were frozen during the investigation.{{cite news |title=Taiwan's main opposition party says struggling to pay salaries |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-election-idUSKBN1YA10S |access-date=3 March 2021 |work=Reuters |archive-date=10 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310225505/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-election-idUSKBN1YA10S |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2019-12-06 |title=Taiwan opposition party ‘struggling to pay staff’ amid asset freeze |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3040997/taiwans-kuomintang-opposition-party-says-its-struggling-pay |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}

The KMT challenged the constitutionality of the Ill-gotten Properties Act, asserting that the law deprived the right of citizens to form political parties by depriving those parties of assets needed for their operation. In August 2020, the Constitutional Court ruled that the law was constitutional. In its interpretation, Judicial Yuan secretary-general Lin Hui-Huang wrote that the law was a form of transitional justice and viewed it as a corrective measure for actions during the martial law period which were legal in form but contrary to the principles of constitutional democracy.{{cite news |last1=Pan |first1=Jason |title=Ruling upholds ill-gotten assets act, committee |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2020/08/29/2003742462 |access-date=3 March 2021 |work=Taipei Times |archive-date=10 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310231047/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2020/08/29/2003742462 |url-status=live }}

The Tsai administration proposed a lay judge system modelled after Japan's over a jury system proposed by the New Power Party.{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2020/04/28/2003735430|title=Reformists criticize Judicial Yuan's draft|work=Taipei Times|date=April 28, 2020|first=Shelley|last=Shan|access-date=May 20, 2020|archive-date=6 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200506190441/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2020/04/28/2003735430|url-status=live}} The Citizen Judges Act was passed on 22 July 2020, instituting a lay judge system with three professional judges along with six lay judges. The law took effect on 1 January 2023.{{cite news |last1=Wang |first1=Yang-yu |last2=Huang |first2=Frances |title=Legislature passes citizen judge bill |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202007220003 |access-date=22 July 2020 |work=Central News Agency (Taiwan) |archive-date=22 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722054720/https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202007220003 |url-status=live }}

{{further|Same-sex marriage in Taiwan}}

On 24 May 2017, the Constitutional Court ruled that the constitutional right to equality and freedom of marriage guarantees same-sex couples the right to marry under the Constitution of the Republic of China. The ruling (Judicial Yuan Interpretation No. 748) gave the Legislative Yuan two years to bring the marriage laws into compliance, after which registration of such marriages would come into force automatically.{{cite news|url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-lgbt-marriage-idUSKBN18K0UN|title = Taiwan court rules in favor of same-sex marriage, first in Asia|work = Reuters|date = 24 May 2017|access-date = 18 May 2019|first = J. R.|last = Wu|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190518052716/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-lgbt-marriage-idUSKBN18K0UN|archive-date = 18 May 2019|url-status = live}}{{cite web|url = http://cons.judicial.gov.tw/jcc/en-us/jep03/show?expno=748|title = Judicial Yuan Interpretation No. 748|publisher = Judicial Yuan|date = 24 May 2017|access-date = 18 May 2019|archive-date = 25 February 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200225225447/http://cons.judicial.gov.tw/jcc/en-us/jep03/show?expno=748|url-status = live}} Following the ruling, progress on implementing a same-sex marriage law was slow due to government inaction and strong opposition from some conservative people and Christian groups.{{cite news|url = https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/nov/24/taiwan-same-sex-marriage-vote-referendum|first = Hannah|last = Summers|title = Uncertainty Grips Gay People in Taiwan as Same-Sex Marriage goes to the Vote|date = 24 November 2018|access-date = 18 May 2019|work= The Guardian|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190411020533/https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/nov/24/taiwan-same-sex-marriage-vote-referendum|archive-date = 11 April 2019|url-status = live}} In November 2018, the Taiwanese electorate passed referendums to prevent recognition of same-sex marriages in the Civil Code and to restrict teaching about LGBT issues. The Government responded by confirming that the Court's ruling would be implemented and that the referendums could not support laws contrary to the Constitution.{{cite news|title = Marriage law 'cannot contradict' ruling|url = http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2018/11/30/2003705194|work= Taipei Times|date = 30 November 2018|access-date = 18 May 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190518052716/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2018/11/30/2003705194|archive-date = 18 May 2019|url-status = live}}

On 20 February 2019, a draft bill entitled the Act for Implementation of J.Y. Interpretation No. 748{{efn|Also translated as the Enforcement Act of Judicial Yuan Interpretation No. 748.}} was released. The draft bill would grant same-sex married couples almost all the rights available to heterosexual married couples under the Civil Code, with the exception that it only allows adoption of a child genetically related to one of them.{{cite news|title = Marriage equality bill handled well|type = Editorial|work= Taipei Times|date = 22 February 2019|access-date = 22 February 2019|url = http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2019/02/22/2003710175|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190221221123/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2019/02/22/2003710175|archive-date = 21 February 2019|url-status = live}} The Executive Yuan passed it the following day, sending it to the Legislative Yuan for fast-tracked review.{{cite news|title = Taiwan's Cabinet passes same-sex marriage bill|url = https://www.taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=2,6,10,15,18&post=150370|work= Taiwan Today|date = 22 February 2019|access-date = 25 February 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190224231240/https://www.taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=2,6,10,15,18&post=150370|archive-date = 24 February 2019|url-status = live}} The bill was passed on 17 May,{{cite news|url = https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/05/17/taiwan-legalises-same-sex-marriage-first-asia/|title = Taiwan legalises same-sex marriage in first for Asia|work = Pink News|date = 17 May 2019|access-date = 17 May 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190517073044/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/05/17/taiwan-legalises-same-sex-marriage-first-asia/|archive-date = 17 May 2019|url-status = live}} signed by the President on 22 May and took effect on 24 May 2019 (the last day possible under the Court's ruling).{{cite news|first = Julia|last = Hollingsworth|url = https://edition.cnn.com/2019/05/17/asia/taiwan-same-sex-marriage-intl/index.html|title = Taiwan passes same-sex marriage bill, becoming first in Asia to do so|work = CNN|date = 17 May 2019|access-date = 17 May 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190517064652/https://edition.cnn.com/2019/05/17/asia/taiwan-same-sex-marriage-intl/index.html|archive-date = 17 May 2019|url-status = live}}

On 1 January 2017, the amended Labor Standards Law (commonly referred to as 一例一休 {{Zh|p=Yīlì yīxiū}}),{{Cite web |url=https://law.moj.gov.tw/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=N0030001 |title=勞動基準法-全國法規資料庫 |access-date=27 July 2023 |archive-date=18 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218114135/https://law.moj.gov.tw/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=N0030001 |url-status=live}} which was passed on 6 December 2016 by the legislature,{{cite web|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/07/01/2003650088|date=1 July 2016|title=Cabinet passes labor act amendments|work=Taipei Times|access-date=15 October 2019|archive-date=15 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015202549/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/07/01/2003650088|url-status=live}} took effect.{{cite news|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201612300024.aspx|title=Several new regulations to take effect in Taiwan on Jan. 1|work=Central News Agency|date=30 December 2016|last=Chen|first=Christie|access-date=15 October 2019|archive-date=15 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015184049/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201612300024.aspx|url-status=live}} The amendments stipulated, with some exceptions, a 40-hour five-day work week with one compulsory rest day and one flexible rest day. On the flexible rest day, workers may work for overtime pay, and the compulsory rest day guaranteed that workers could not work more than six days in a row. The amendments also reduced the number of national holidays from 19 to 12, eliminating Youth Day, Teachers’ Day, Retrocession Day, Chiang Kai-shek's birthday, Sun Yat-sen's birthday, Constitution Day and the day following New Year's Day.{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2018/12/05/2003705533|title='No need' to reinstate holidays: Cabinet|first=Ann|last=Maxon|work=Taipei Times|date=5 December 2018|access-date=15 October 2019|archive-date=15 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015203349/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2018/12/05/2003705533|url-status=live}} Prior to the amendments, the Labor Standards Act stipulated a maximum of 84 hours of work in any given 14 day period.{{cite news|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201609130023.aspx|title=Labor Ministry passes regulation to enforce one rest day per week|work=Central News Agency|date=13 September 2016|last1=Yu|first1=Hsiao-han|last2=Hou|first2=Elaine|access-date=15 October 2019|archive-date=15 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015183222/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201609130023.aspx|url-status=live}} The amendments were met with protests from labor groups, who opposed the reduction of national holidays and demanded that work on flexible rest days should result in compensatory vacation days in addition to overtime pay.{{cite news|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201606300017.aspx|title=Cabinet approves draft bill on new work week; labor unions protest|work=Central News Agency|date=30 June 2016|last1=Tai|first1=Ya-chen|last2=Hsu|first2=Elizabeth|access-date=15 October 2019|archive-date=15 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015184045/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201606300017.aspx|url-status=live}}

After taking effect, the amendments were criticized for their lack of flexibility, resulting in a net decrease in total pay and an increase in cost of living, and for having an overly complicated scheme for calculating overtime pay, leading the administration to further revise the Labor Standards Act.{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2017/01/25/2003663771|title=People struggling with new labor laws: survey|last=Lin|first=Sean|work=Taipei Times|date=25 January 2017|access-date=15 October 2019|archive-date=15 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015185510/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2017/01/25/2003663771|url-status=live}} On 1 March 2018, the second revision of the Labor Standards Act came into effect.{{cite news|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aeco/201802280021.aspx|title=New labor rules to go into effect March 1|date=28 February 2017|last1=Yu|first1=Hsiao-han|last2=Huang|first2=Romulo|work=Central News Agency|access-date=15 October 2019|archive-date=15 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015190644/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aeco/201802280021.aspx|url-status=live}} The revisions relaxed the previous regulations by stipulating two compulsory rest days for each 14 day period rather than one compulsory rest day for each 7 day period, meaning that workers could work for 12 days in a row. The revisions also simplified the formula for overtime pay.{{cite news|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201711080030.aspx|title=Cabinet expected to approve draft revisions to labor law amid protests|date=11 August 2017|last1=Chen|first1=Jun-hua|last2=Liu|first2=Kuan-ting|last3=Liu|first3=Kuan-lin|work=Central News Agency|access-date=15 October 2019|archive-date=15 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015190635/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201711080030.aspx|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2018/01/11/2003685570|title=Amended Labor Standards Act passed|last1=Lin|first1=Sean|last2=Chung|first2=Jake|work=Taipei Times|date=11 January 2018|access-date=15 October 2019|archive-date=15 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015190654/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2018/01/11/2003685570|url-status=live}} The revisions were met with protests and hunger strikes by labor groups.{{cite news|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201711200021.aspx|title=Labor groups protest proposed labor law revisions with hunger strike|date=20 November 2017|last1=Yu|first1=Hsiao-han|last2=Liu|first2=Kuan-lin|work=Central News Agency|access-date=15 October 2019|archive-date=15 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015190636/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201711200021.aspx|url-status=live}}

File:01.22 總統出席「年金改革國是會議」開幕儀式 (32298875132).jpg

International observers have noted that Taiwan's pre-reform pension system was due to default by 2030 for civil servants and 2020 for the military.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/taiwan-pension/update-1-taiwan-cuts-18-pct-interest-in-civil-service-pension-reform-idUSL3N1JO2EU|title=Taiwan cuts 18 pct interest in civil service pension reform|work=Reuters|date=27 June 2017|access-date=9 October 2019|archive-date=10 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010021252/https://www.reuters.com/article/taiwan-pension/update-1-taiwan-cuts-18-pct-interest-in-civil-service-pension-reform-idUSL3N1JO2EU|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.economist.com/asia/2017/05/18/taking-on-taiwans-ruinous-and-partisan-pension-system|title=Taking on Taiwan's ruinous and partisan pension system|magazine=The Economist|date=18 May 2017|access-date=9 October 2019|archive-date=10 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010021249/https://www.economist.com/asia/2017/05/18/taking-on-taiwans-ruinous-and-partisan-pension-system|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-pensionreform/taiwans-military-may-be-first-casualty-in-pension-crisis-idUSKBN14O2BG|title=Taiwan's military may be first casualty in pension crisis|work=Reuters|date=4 January 2017|last1=Hung|first1=Faith|last2=Desai|first2=Umesh|access-date=9 October 2019|archive-date=10 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010021507/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-pensionreform/taiwans-military-may-be-first-casualty-in-pension-crisis-idUSKBN14O2BG|url-status=live}} Pension reform was passed via two separate bills, one dealing with civil servants and schoolteachers on 27 June 2017 and another dealing with military veterans on 20 June 2018. On 1 July 2018, the pension reforms came into effect. Civil servants, upon retirement, have a choice between receiving pensions in monthly instalments subject to a preferential interest rate or via a lump sum. Under the reforms, the previous preferential interest rate for those who opted for monthly instalments would be gradually reduced from 18% to 0% over the span of 30 months. Civil servants who opted for a lump sum would see their interest rates decreased from 18% to 6% over a period of 6 years. The reforms were estimated to affect 63,000 military veterans, 130,000 public servants and 140,000 schoolteachers. The reforms simultaneously set minimum monthly pensions for schoolteachers and civil servants at $32,160 NTD and for military veterans at $38,990 NTD.{{cite news|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201806300017.aspx|title=New pension systems come into force Sunday|last1=Hsieh|first1=Chia-chen|last2=Yu|first2=Matt|last3=Lin|first3=Ko|work=Central News Agency|date=30 June 2018|access-date=9 October 2019|archive-date=10 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010021642/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201806300017.aspx|url-status=live}} The reforms also raised the minimum retirement age to 60 from 55, to increase by 1 per year until the retirement age reaches 65.{{cite web|url=https://theasiadialogue.com/2017/07/28/pension-reform-made-in-taiwan/|title=Pension Reform Made in Taiwan|work=Asia Dialogue|publisher=University of Nottingham, Asia Research Institute|last=Schubert|first=Gunter|date=28 July 2017|access-date=10 April 2023|archive-date=29 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129115538/https://theasiadialogue.com/2017/07/28/pension-reform-made-in-taiwan/|url-status=live}} Though the reforms were met with protests from government retirees and veterans,{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-pension-protests/thousands-protest-outside-taiwan-presidential-office-over-pension-reform-plan-idUSKBN1560EM|title=Thousands protest outside Taiwan Presidential Office over pension reform plan|last=Hung|first=Faith|work=Reuters|date=22 January 2017|access-date=9 October 2019|archive-date=10 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010022109/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-pension-protests/thousands-protest-outside-taiwan-presidential-office-over-pension-reform-plan-idUSKBN1560EM|url-status=live}} polls have shown that the majority of Taiwanese are satisfied with the outcome of the pension reforms.{{cite news|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201807020029.aspx|title=Most Taiwanese satisfied with pension reform outcome: poll|work=Central News Agency|last1=Lu|first1=Hsin-hui|last2=Kao|first2=Evelyn|date=2 July 2018|access-date=9 October 2019|archive-date=10 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010022110/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201807020029.aspx|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2017/01/24/2003663694|title=Wide support for pension reform: poll|date=24 January 2017|last=Chen|first=Wei-han|work=Taipei Times|access-date=9 October 2019|archive-date=10 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010022109/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2017/01/24/2003663694|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2017/07/20/2003674924|title=Poll finds pension reform pushed up president's ratings|last=Chen|first=Wei-han|work=Taipei Times|date=20 July 2017|access-date=9 October 2019|archive-date=10 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010022225/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2017/07/20/2003674924|url-status=live}} After a legal challenge by the KMT, the Constitutional Court found most of the pension reform constitutional, while striking down clauses regarding the suspension of pensions for retirees that took jobs later in the private sector.{{cite news|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201908230024.aspx|work=Central News Agency|title=Parts of pension reform laws violate Constitution: court|date=23 August 2018|access-date=9 October 2019|last1=Lin|first1=Chang-chun|last2=Hsu|first2=Elizabeth|last3=Chen|first3=Christie|archive-date=30 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930161448/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201908230024.aspx|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2019/08/24/2003721023|title=Most pension reforms constitutional|work=Taipei Times|date=24 August 2019|last1=Pan|first1=Jason|last2=Lin|first2=Sean|access-date=9 October 2019|archive-date=10 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010023500/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2019/08/24/2003721023|url-status=live}}

{{further|Languages of Taiwan}}

The Tsai administration took actions to preserve languages facing a crisis of inheritance and to put them on more equal footing to Mandarin. Previously, the only national language was Mandarin; during her administration, the national languages of Taiwan were eventually broadened to include Mandarin, Taiwanese Hokkien, Hakka, 16 indigenous Formosan languages, Taiwanese Sign Language and the Matsu dialect of Eastern Min spoken on the Matsu Islands.

The Indigenous Languages Development Act took effect on 14 June 2017, designating 16 indigenous Formosan languages as national languages.{{cite news|url=https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=2&post=116946|title=Indigenous languages development act takes effect|date=15 June 2017|work=Taiwan Today|access-date=10 October 2019|archive-date=1 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301215546/https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=2&post=116946|url-status=live}} Hakka was made a national language via amendments to the Hakka Basic Act on 29 December 2017.{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2017/12/30/2003684894|title=Hakka made an official language|date=30 December 2017|work=Taipei Times|access-date=10 October 2019|archive-date=21 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191121173359/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2017/12/30/2003684894|url-status=live}} On 25 December 2018, the sweeping National Languages Development Act passed the legislature, creating broadcast services for each national language of Taiwan, providing interpreters for all national languages in the legislature, guaranteeing access to public services in each language (including legislative, and introducing elective language classes in primary schools.{{cite news|url=https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=2,6,10,15,18&post=147829|title=National languages development act passed by Legislature|work=Taiwan Today|date=26 December 2018|access-date=10 October 2019|archive-date=17 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217172807/https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=2,6,10,15,18&post=147829|url-status=live}} The act also directed the government to work with civic groups to create standard orthographies for each national language, and to develop a plan for preserving and revitalizing threatened languages. It furthermore automatically designated, in Article 3,{{cite web|url=https://law.moj.gov.tw/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=H0170143|title=國家語言發展法-全國法規資料庫|access-date=10 April 2023|archive-date=11 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111221059/https://law.moj.gov.tw/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=H0170143|url-status=live}} all languages of all ethnic groups in Taiwan as national languages,{{cite web|url=https://www.moc.gov.tw/en/information_196_96138.html|title=National Languages Development Act clears Legislative Yuan|date=25 December 2018|work=Ministry of Culture|access-date=10 October 2019|archive-date=28 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828114940/https://www.moc.gov.tw/en/information_196_96138.html|url-status=live}} thus clearing the way for Taiwanese Hokkien, Taiwanese Sign Language, and the Matsu dialect to become national languages.

On 15 August 2019, the government amended the Enforcement Rules of the Passport Act to allow for the use of romanizations of names in any national language (Hakka, Hoklo or indigenous languages) in passports.{{cite news|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201908150013.aspx|title=Taiwan passport to allow Hoklo, Hakka, indigenous language names|work=Central News Agency|last1=Hou|first1=Elaine|last2=Lin|first2=Ko|date=15 August 2018|access-date=10 October 2019|archive-date=19 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019190604/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201908150013.aspx|url-status=live}}

On 27 September 2021, Legislator Chen Po-wei of the Taiwan Statebuilding Party spoke Taiwanese during a session questioning the Foreign and National Defense Committee. The Minister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng responded by asking Chen to speak Mandarin to allow for easier communication, and would not lengthen the session to accommodate the interpretive service, after which the exchange became heated. Chen later apologized on Facebook, saying that the language barrier led to contextual errors. The parliamentary interpretation service stipulated by the National Languages Development Act were temporarily suspended pending improvements.{{cite web |title=Development of National Languages Act |url=https://www.moc.gov.tw/en/content_373.html |author=Ministry of Culture |date=11 January 2019 |access-date=8 April 2022 |location=Taipei |archive-date=28 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528125508/https://www.moc.gov.tw/en/content_373.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web|title=陳柏惟台語質詢和邱國正起衝突，道歉嘆「喜事變悲劇」，立院將暫緩執行通譯服務加強溝通|trans-title=Bo-wei Chen questioned Kuo-Cheng Chiu in Taiwanese, and sighed after the conflict: "A happy event turned to a tragedy" - the Legislative Yuan will postpone the interpretation service and strengthen the communication|url=https://www.thenewslens.com/article/156934|first=Bing-fang|last=Li|date=28 September 2021|access-date=8 April 2022|publisher=The News Lens|language=zh-tw|location=Taipei|archive-date=3 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203035901/https://www.thenewslens.com/article/156934|url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=EDITORIAL: Language is not just a tool |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2021/10/06/2003765596 |website=Taipei Times |date=6 October 2021 |access-date=10 April 2022 |archive-date=10 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410090135/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2021/10/06/2003765596 |url-status=live }}

File:總統出席接見美國聯邦參議院軍事委員會馬侃（John McCain）主席訪問團 (27455615196).jpg delegation led by John McCain, 5 June 2016]]

Tsai supports strong and stable relationships between Taiwan (ROC) and the United States. In early December 2016, Tsai held an unprecedented telephone call with President-elect Donald Trump. This was the first time that the President of the ROC spoke with the president or president-elect of the United States since 1979. Afterwards, she indicated there had been no major "policy shift".{{cite news |date=6 December 2016 |title=Taiwan's Tsai: no major policy shifts, despite Trump call – reports |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-china-tsai-idUSKBN13V1T7 |url-status=live |access-date=2 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819033708/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-china-tsai-idUSKBN13V1T7 |archive-date=19 August 2017}}

In January 2021, Tsai met with United States Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft by video link.{{Cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3117764/us-china-tensions-taiwan-model-world-american-envoy-kelly|title=Taiwan a 'model for the world', American envoy Kelly Craft says|date=14 January 2021|website=South China Morning Post|access-date=23 June 2021|archive-date=29 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629111932/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3117764/us-china-tensions-taiwan-model-world-american-envoy-kelly|url-status=live}} Craft said: "We discussed the many ways Taiwan is a model for the world, as demonstrated by its success in fighting COVID-19 and all that Taiwan has to offer in the fields of health, technology and cutting-edge science.... the U.S. stands with Taiwan and always will." Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Zhao Lijian said: "Certain U.S. politicians will pay a heavy price for their wrong words and deeds."{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-taiwan-idUSKBN29J0GJ|title=U.S. stands by Taiwan, envoy says after cancelled trip|last1=Nichols|first1=Michelle|last2=Blanchard|first2=Ben|newspaper=Reuters|date=14 January 2021|via=www.reuters.com|access-date=23 June 2021|archive-date=29 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629090404/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-taiwan-idUSKBN29J0GJ|url-status=live}} On her last day in office later that month, Craft called Taiwan "a force for good on the global stage – a vibrant democracy, a generous humanitarian actor, a responsible actor in the global health community, and a vigorous promoter and defender of human rights."{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/beijing-health-coronavirus-pandemic-china-united-nations-general-assembly-1b49bd6812814583b28d94cb4f9c8f45|title=Outging US ambassador says world must end Taiwan's exclusion|date=27 April 2021|website=AP NEWS|access-date=23 June 2021|archive-date=30 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630071327/https://apnews.com/article/beijing-health-coronavirus-pandemic-china-united-nations-general-assembly-1b49bd6812814583b28d94cb4f9c8f45|url-status=live}}

In March 2023, Tsai is set to travel to the United States on a 10-day tour of the Americas. The trip comes after Honduras severed ties with Taiwan in order to establish diplomatic relations with China. Tsai will stop in New York before visiting Guatemala and Belize, before heading to Los Angeles before heading back to Taiwan.{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/china-reaction-tsai-mccarthy-meeting-taiwan-e1926816ce20590b2c7992fae8f8cd04|title=China threatens retaliation if Tsai and McCarthy meet|date=29 March 2023|website=AP NEWS|access-date=29 March 2023|archive-date=29 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329092936/https://apnews.com/article/china-reaction-tsai-mccarthy-meeting-taiwan-e1926816ce20590b2c7992fae8f8cd04?utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=TopNews&utm_campaign=position_07|url-status=live}} During the trip, Tsai is expected to meet Kevin McCarthy during her stop in Los Angeles. Chinese diplomats threatened a strong response, if senior American politicians, including McCarthy, meet with Tsai.{{Cite news|last1=Knickmeyer|first1=Ellen|last2=Mascaro|first2=Lisa|url=https://apnews.com/article/china-taiwan-central-america-tsai-us-ba1757919410805cf97f9a0943a1cecb|title=Taiwan's president begins US visit to shore up support|date=30 March 2023|website=Associated Press|accessdate=30 March 2023|archive-date=30 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330090937/https://apnews.com/article/china-taiwan-central-america-tsai-us-ba1757919410805cf97f9a0943a1cecb?utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=TopNews&utm_campaign=position_09|url-status=live}} Despite China's threat, McCarthy confirmed that he will meet Tsai when she arrives in California. The meeting would also involve members of the Republican and Democratic parties at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.{{Cite news|last1=Davidson|first1=Helen|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/04/us-house-speaker-kevin-mccarthy-confirms-he-will-meet-taiwan-president-in-california|title=US house speaker Kevin McCarthy confirms he will meet Taiwan president in California|date=4 April 2023|website=The Guardian|accessdate=4 April 2023|archive-date=4 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404005741/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/04/us-house-speaker-kevin-mccarthy-confirms-he-will-meet-taiwan-president-in-california|url-status=live}}

The DPP's traditional position on the issue of cross-strait relations is that the Republic of China, widely known as Taiwan, is already an independent state governing the territories of Kinmen, Matsu, Penghu Islands, and the island of Taiwan, thus rendering a formal declaration of independence unnecessary. While Tsai has never departed fundamentally from the party line, her personal approach to the issue is nuanced and evolving.{{cite news |title=蔡英文接受BBC專訪談台獨 一字之變引關注 |url=https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/trad/chinese-news-51176208 |access-date=1 January 2022 |agency=BBC NEWS中文 |date=20 January 2020 |language=zh |archive-date=22 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122162934/https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/trad/chinese-news-51176208 |url-status=live }}

During the 2012 presidential election cycle, Tsai said that she disagreed with the 1992 Consensus as the basis for negotiations between Taiwan and mainland China, that such a consensus only served to buttress the "One China Principle", and that "no such consensus exists" because the majority of the Taiwanese public does not necessarily agree with this consensus. She believed that broad consultations should be held at all levels of Taiwanese society to decide the basis on which to advance negotiations with Beijing, dubbed the "Taiwan consensus". During the 2016 election cycle, Tsai was notably more moderate, making "maintaining the status quo" the centerpiece of party policy. She vowed to work within the Republic of China governing framework in addition to preserving the progress made in cross-strait relations by previous governments, while preserving "freedom and democracy" for the residents of Taiwan.{{cite web|url=http://udn.com/news/story/7983/827842-%E8%94%A1%E8%8B%B1%E6%96%87%EF%BC%9A%E5%85%A9%E5%B2%B8%E5%9F%BA%E6%9C%AC%E5%8E%9F%E5%89%87-%E7%B6%AD%E6%8C%81%E7%8F%BE%E7%8B%80|script-title=zh:蔡英文：兩岸基本原則 維持現狀|website=udn.com|access-date=22 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150823071607/http://udn.com/news/story/7983/827842-%E8%94%A1%E8%8B%B1%E6%96%87%EF%BC%9A%E5%85%A9%E5%B2%B8%E5%9F%BA%E6%9C%AC%E5%8E%9F%E5%89%87-%E7%B6%AD%E6%8C%81%E7%8F%BE%E7%8B%80|archive-date=23 August 2015|url-status=live}}

Tsai believes in the importance of economic and trade links with mainland China, but publicly spoke out against the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), a preferential trade agreement that increased economic links between Taiwan and mainland China. She generally supports the diversification of Taiwan's economic partners.{{cite news |author1=李欣芳 |title=蔡英文：力推公投 否決ECFA |url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/focus/paper/391346 |access-date=1 January 2022 |agency=Liberty Times |date=28 April 2010 |location=Taiwan |language=zh |archive-date=1 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101040211/https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/focus/paper/391346 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=ECFA雙英辯論文字紀錄 |url=http://talk.news.pts.org.tw/show/12901 |access-date=1 January 2022 |agency=公視 |language=zh |archive-date=1 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101040856/http://talk.news.pts.org.tw/show/12901 |url-status=live }}

In response to the death of Chinese Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, who died of organ failure while in government custody, Tsai pleaded with the Communist government to "show confidence in engaging in political reform so that the Chinese can enjoy the God-given rights of freedom and democracy".{{Cite web |date=2017-07-14 |title=World leaders call for release of Liu Xiaobo's widow |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2102682/how-world-leaders-reacted-liu-xiaobos-death |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en |archive-date=14 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714221947/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2102682/how-world-leaders-reacted-liu-xiaobos-death |url-status=live }}

Tsai has accused the Communist Party of China's troll army of spreading fake news via social media to influence voters and support candidates more sympathetic to Beijing ahead of the 2018 Taiwanese local elections.{{cite news |title='Fake news' rattles Taiwan ahead of elections |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/11/news-rattles-taiwan-elections-181123005140173.html |work=Al-Jazeera |date=23 November 2018 |access-date=14 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214075425/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/11/news-rattles-taiwan-elections-181123005140173.html |archive-date=14 December 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Analysis: 'Fake news' fears grip Taiwan ahead of local polls |url=https://monitoring.bbc.co.uk/product/c200fqlq |publisher=BBC Monitoring |date=21 November 2018 |access-date=14 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214164847/https://monitoring.bbc.co.uk/product/c200fqlq |archive-date=14 December 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Fake news: How China is interfering in Taiwanese democracy and what to do about it |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3580979 |work=Taiwan News |date=23 November 2018 |access-date=14 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214213851/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3580979 |archive-date=14 December 2018 |url-status=live }}

In January 2019, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), had announced an open letter to Taiwan proposing a one country, two systems formula for eventual unification. Tsai responded to Xi in a January 2019 speech by stating that Taiwan rejects "one country, two systems" and that because Beijing equates the 1992 Consensus with "one country, two systems", Taiwan rejects the 1992 Consensus as well.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/05/world/asia/taiwan-xi-jinping-tsai-ing-wen.html|work=The New York Times|date=January 5, 2019|last=Horton|first=Chris|title=Taiwan's President, Defying Xi Jinping, Calls Unification Offer 'Impossible'|access-date=January 18, 2019|archive-date=4 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704104654/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/05/world/asia/taiwan-xi-jinping-tsai-ing-wen.html|url-status=live}}

Tsai expressed her solidarity with Hong Kong protesters, remarking that Taiwan's democracy was hard-earned and had to be guarded and renewed. Pledging that as long as she was Taiwan's president, she would never accept "one country, two systems", Tsai cited what she considered to be the constant and rapid deterioration of Hong Kong's democracy over the course of 20 years.{{cite web|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201906100017.aspx|title=Tsai, Lai voice support for Hong Kong extradition bill protesters|date=10 June 2019|website=Focus Taiwan|publisher=The Central News Agency|access-date=10 April 2023|archive-date=10 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610142613/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201906100017.aspx|url-status=live}}

File:108 Anti-drug Responsible Persons Group.jpg

File:總統出席「中山女高畢業典禮」 (26786247104).jpg in Taipei, June 2016]]

Tsai has traditionally been supportive of disadvantaged groups in society, including the poor, women and children, Taiwanese indigenous peoples, and LGBT groups. She favours government action to reduce unemployment, introducing incentives for entrepreneurship among youth, expanding public housing, and government-mandated childcare support. She supports government transparency and more prudent and disciplined fiscal management.{{cite news |author1=溫貴香 |title=總統：22年首次平衡預算 史上最遵守財政紀律政府 |url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/201908060103.aspx |access-date=1 January 2022 |agency=中央通訊社 |date=6 August 2019 |location=Taiwan |language=zh |archive-date=1 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101053126/https://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/201908060103.aspx |url-status=live }}{{cite news |author1=顧荃 |title=蔡總統：綿密社會安全網 接住每個需要幫助的人 |url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/202005200111.aspx |access-date=1 January 2022 |agency=中央通訊社 |date=20 May 2020 |location=Taiwan |language=zh |archive-date=1 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101053748/https://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/202005200111.aspx |url-status=live }}

Tsai advocated for the non-partisanship of the president of the Legislative Yuan, the increase in the number of "at-large" seats in the legislature, the broadening of participation among all political parties and interest groups. She supports proactively repairing the damage done to Taiwanese aboriginal groups, as well as the government actions in the February 28 Incident and during the phase of White Terror. She has also called for the de-polarization of Taiwanese politics, and advocates for a more open and consensus-based approach to addressing issues and passing legislation.{{cite web |url=http://iing.tw/posts/51 |script-title=zh:五大政治改革 – 點亮台灣 LIGHT UP TAIWAN |website=點亮台灣 LIGHT UP TAIWAN |access-date=22 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131193805/http://iing.tw/posts/51 |archive-date=31 January 2016 |url-status=live }}

Tsai supports LGBT rights and has endorsed the legalization of same-sex marriage in Taiwan. On 21 August 2015, the day of the Double Seventh Festival, she released a campaign video in which three same-sex couples actors appeared.{{cite web |script-title=zh:祝全天下所有的情人，七夕情人節快樂！ {{!}} 點亮台灣 LIGHT UP TAIWAN |url=http://iing.tw/posts/52 |website=點亮台灣 LIGHT UP TAIWAN |access-date=4 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151024065653/http://iing.tw/posts/52 |archive-date=24 October 2015 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=WATCH: Taiwanese Presidential Candidate Celebrates Love With Same-Sex Couples {{!}} Advocate.com |url=http://www.advocate.com/taiwan/2015/08/21/watch-taiwanese-presidential-candidate-celebrates-love-same-sex-couples |website=www.advocate.com |date=1 October 2015 |access-date=4 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905113523/http://www.advocate.com/taiwan/2015/08/21/watch-taiwanese-presidential-candidate-celebrates-love-same-sex-couples |archive-date=5 September 2015 |url-status=live }} On 31 October 2015, when the biggest gay pride parade in Asia was held in Taipei, Tsai expressed her support for same-sex marriage.{{cite web |title=Taiwan crowds march in Asia's biggest gay pride parade |url=http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/asia-pacific/90958-151031-taiwan-crowds-march-in-asia-s-biggest-gay-pride-parade |website=i24news |access-date=4 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105064711/http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/asia-pacific/90958-151031-taiwan-crowds-march-in-asia-s-biggest-gay-pride-parade |archive-date=5 January 2016 |url-status=live }} She posted a 15-second video on her Facebook page saying "I am Tsai Ing-wen, and I support marriage equality" and "Let everyone be able to freely love and pursue happiness".{{cite web |title=Nearly 80,000 march in Taiwan Pride parade |url=http://spectrum.suntimes.com/news/10/155/5722/nearly-80000-march-taiwan-pride-parade |website=Spectrum |access-date=4 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105024343/http://spectrum.suntimes.com/news/10/155/5722/nearly-80000-march-taiwan-pride-parade |archive-date=5 November 2015 }}{{cite web |script-title=zh:〔我是蔡英文，我支持婚姻平權〕 – 蔡英文 Tsai Ing-wen {{!}} Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/tsaiingwen/videos/10152991551061065 |website=www.facebook.com |access-date=4 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203185034/https://www.facebook.com/tsaiingwen/videos/10152991551061065/ |archive-date=3 February 2017 |url-status=live }} During her presidency, Tsai advocated for the legalization of same-sex marriage, despite opposition from ultra conservative religious groups. After the 2018 Taiwanese referendum, Tsai led the government to legalize same-sex marriage outside of the Civil Code, making Taiwan the first country in Asia to legalize marriage equality.{{cite news |author1=葉素萍、溫貴香 |title=同婚專法公布 蔡總統：重新團結在愛的旗幟下 |url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/201905220357.aspx?topic=1666 |access-date=1 January 2022 |agency=中央通訊社 |date=22 May 2019 |location=Taiwan |language=zh |archive-date=1 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101024559/https://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/201905220357.aspx?topic=1666 |url-status=live }}

Tsai's paternal grandfather came from a prominent Hakka family in Fangshan, Pingtung. Her grandmother, from Shizi, Pingtung, was of aboriginal Paiwan descent.{{cite web |language=zh-tw |author=林修卉 |url=http://www.nownews.com/2011/08/07/91-2733509.htm |script-title=zh:蔡英文也有原住民血統 祖母是獅子鄉「排灣族」 |publisher=今日新聞網 |date=7 August 2011 |access-date=27 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926092249/http://www.nownews.com/2011/08/07/91-2733509.htm |archive-date=26 September 2011 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Chen |first1=Jay |title=Resolute Tsai scores historic victory |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aftr/201601160034.aspx |access-date=21 January 2016 |agency=Central News Agency |date=16 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119154124/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aftr/201601160034.aspx |archive-date=19 January 2016 |url-status=live }} Tsai's father, Tsai Chieh-sheng ({{zh|first=t|t=蔡潔生|p=Cài Jiéshēng|labels=no}}) owned a car repair business.{{cite web |last1=Sui |first1=Cindy |title=Taiwan's first female leader, shy but steely Tsai Ing-wen |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35320444 |access-date=21 January 2016 |publisher=BBC |date=16 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119122136/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35320444 |archive-date=19 January 2016 |url-status=live }} Tsai's mother is Chang Chin-fong ({{zh|first=t|t=張金鳳|p=Zhāng Jīnfèng|labels=no}}), the last of her father's four wives. Tsai is the youngest of her parents' four children. She also has seven elder half-siblings on her father's side and a half-brother on her mother's side.{{cite web |url=http://www.businessweekly.com.tw/KIndepArticle.aspx?id=27374 |script-title=zh:解密 富商之女蔡英文 |publisher=Business Weekly Taiwan |date=25 November 2015 |access-date=16 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114151950/http://www.businessweekly.com.tw/KIndepArticle.aspx?id=27374 |archive-date=14 January 2016 |url-status=live }} She is the first Taiwanese president of aboriginal descent,Ministry of Foreign Affairs brochures MOFA-EN-FO-105-011-I-1 (also appearing in Taiwan Review, May/June 2016) and −004-I-1. and the second of Hakka descent after Lee Teng-hui.{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jzzjU77TkM |title=【李登輝逝世】2次落榜終考上高中 太平洋戰爭卻中斷李登輝的求學路|work=Mirror Media|accessdate=24 August 2020 |archive-date=2 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202001338/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jzzjU77TkM |url-status=live }}{{cite journal |title=末代客家人 – 三芝客家方言廢島尋寶 |author=Ang Ui-jin |author1-link=Ang Ui-jin |journal=客家風雲 |issue=5 |date=March 1988 }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.chinatimes.com/newspapers/20150911001071-260603?chdtv |title=《時報周刊》透視李登輝權謀術 用盡郝宋再丟棄 就像夾死蒼蠅 |date=11 September 2015 |accessdate=17 August 2020 |archive-date=2 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202000828/https://www.chinatimes.com/newspapers/20150911001071-260603?chdtv |url-status=live }}

Tsai is unmarried and has no children, making her Taiwan's first unmarried president. According to traditional Chinese genealogical naming practices, Tsai's name should have been {{lang|zh|蔡瀛文}}, since her generation name is {{linktext|瀛|lang=zh}} ({{transliteration|zh|yíng}}), not {{linktext|英|lang=zh}} ({{transliteration|zh|yīng}}).{{cite book |last1=Tsai |first1=Ing-wen |last2=Liu |first2=Yongyi (劉永毅) |script-title=zh:洋蔥炒蛋到小英便當：蔡英文的人生滋味 |year=2011 |publisher=圓神出版社 |location=Taipei |isbn=9789861333861}} However, Tsai's father believed the former to have too many strokes for her to learn, so she was instead named {{lang|zh|英文}}, which can be literally translated by its individual parts as "heroic" and "literature". The word 英文 is coincidentally also the Chinese name for the English language (which, in an ironic twist of fate, Tsai speaks) as yīng is also used as a phonetic approximation of the first syllable of "England". Tsai also bears the Paiwan name Tjuku.{{cite news|url=https://englishnews.ftv.com.tw/read.aspx?sno=FA1B02274C67C88E3A509C31BC2882D5|title=Tsai's campaign stop to woo indigenous support attracts former KMT members|work=Formosa News|date=29 December 2011|access-date=4 February 2022|archive-date=3 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703220838/http://englishnews.ftv.com.tw/read.aspx?sno=FA1B02274C67C88E3A509C31BC2882D5|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |author1=林益仁 |title=林益仁／Tjuku蔡英文總統如何向原住民族道歉 |url=https://www.twreporter.org/a/opinion-indigenous-policy |website=The Reporter |access-date=4 February 2022 |archive-date=16 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716101046/https://www.twreporter.org/a/opinion-indigenous-policy |url-status=live }}

Tsai is known to be a cat lover, and her two cats, "Think Think" and "Ah Tsai", featured prominently in her election campaign.{{cite web |url=http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1902288/cat-woman-taiwans-first-female-president-huge-fan |title=Cat Woman: Taiwan's first female president huge fan of felines |access-date=3 December 2016 |date=18 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918142644/http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1902288/cat-woman-taiwans-first-female-president-huge-fan |archive-date=18 September 2016 |url-status=live }} In October 2016, she adopted three retired guide dogs, named Bella, Bunny, and Maru.{{cite news |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2016/11/03/2003658436 |trans-title=President Tsai adopts three retired guide dogs |script-title=zh:蔡英文總統 收養三隻退役導盲犬 |work=Taipei Times |date=3 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202000627/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2016/11/03/2003658436 |archive-date=2 February 2017 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=2017-10-26 |title=New Zealand's 'first cat' and other political pets |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-41757958 |access-date=2023-03-09 |archive-date=9 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109143048/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-41757958 |url-status=live }}

Tsai was named one of Time's most influential people of 2020 and was ranked ninth on Forbes's most powerful women in 2021, being the second-highest ranking female politician after Kamala Harris (who placed second in the list, behind philanthropist MacKenzie Scott).{{Cite magazine |title=Tsai Ing-wen: The 100 Most Influential People of 2020 |url=https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2020/5888307/tsai-ing-wen/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112201454/https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2020/5888307/tsai-ing-wen/ |archive-date=12 November 2021 |access-date=2020-09-23 |magazine=Time}}{{cite news |date=10 December 2021 |title=Tsai ranks ninth on 'Forbes' list of powerful women |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2021/12/10/2003769339 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215094457/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2021/12/10/2003769339 |archive-date=15 December 2021 |access-date=15 December 2021 |work=Taipei Times |page=3}} Internationally, Tsai has been praised for her response to the COVID-19 pandemic,{{Cite news |date=2020-12-03 |title=Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan's Covid Crusher |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-03/tsai-ing-wen-taiwan-s-covid-crusher-bloomberg-50-2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104145914/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-03/tsai-ing-wen-taiwan-s-covid-crusher-bloomberg-50-2020 |archive-date=4 January 2021 |access-date=2022-08-23 |work=Bloomberg News |language=en}} and for standing up to pressure from the People's Republic of China.{{Cite news |title=The leader who's standing up to China |url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/taiwan-china-tsai/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211226165804/https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/taiwan-china-tsai/ |archive-date=26 December 2021 |access-date=2022-08-23 |work=Reuters |language=en}}

She has received:

• {{flag|Belize}}:
• 70px Order of Belize (2018){{Cite web|title=Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen visits Belize looking to shore up support|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/world/americas/taiwan-president-tsai-ing-wen-visits-belize-looking-to-shore-up-support|last=hermesauto|date=2018-08-17|website=The Straits Times|language=en|access-date=2020-05-20|archive-date=9 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809113130/https://www.straitstimes.com/world/americas/taiwan-president-tsai-ing-wen-visits-belize-looking-to-shore-up-support|url-status=live}}
• {{flag|El Salvador}}:
• 70px Grand Cross with Gold Star of the National Order of Doctor José Matías Delgado (2017){{Cite web|title=President Tsai welcomed with military honors in El Salvador, receives decoration|url=https://english.president.gov.tw/NEWS/5083|website=english.president.gov.tw|language=en|access-date=2020-05-20|archive-date=29 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129120206/https://english.president.gov.tw/NEWS/5083|url-status=live}}
• {{flag|Eswatini}}:
• 70px Collar of the Order of the Elephant (2018){{Cite web|title=President Tsai meets King Mswati III of Swaziland, attends state banquet|url=https://www.taiwanembassy.org/sz_en/post/2808.html|last=Team|first=Internet|website=Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in the Kingdom of Eswatini 駐史瓦帝尼王國大使館|access-date=2020-05-20|archive-date=9 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809112623/https://www.taiwanembassy.org/sz_en/post/2808.html|url-status=live}}
• {{flag|Guatemala}}:
• 70px Grand Collar of the Order of the Quetzal (2017)
• File:Order of the Five Volcanoes (Guatemala) Ribbon bar.svg Grand Cross with Gold Star of the {{ill|Order of the Five Volcanoes|es|Orden de los Cinco Volcanes}} (2023){{Cite web |title=President Tsai attends state banquet, receives decoration from President Alejandro Giammattei of Republic of Guatemala  |url=https://english.president.gov.tw/NEWS/6476 |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=english.president.gov.tw |language=en}}
• Peace Ambassador{{Cite web|title=Morales decorates Taiwan's president, names her peace ambassador|url=http://noticias.alianzanews.com/309_hispanic-world/4260201_morales-decorates-taiwan-s-president-names-her-peace-ambassador.html|website=noticias.alianzanews.com|language=ES|access-date=2020-05-20|archive-date=9 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809221929/http://noticias.alianzanews.com/309_hispanic-world/4260201_morales-decorates-taiwan-s-president-names-her-peace-ambassador.html|url-status=dead}}
• {{flag|Haiti}}:
• File:Orden Nacional de Honor y Mérito, Gran Cruz.svg Grand Cross of the National Order of Honour and Merit (2018){{cite news |last1=Hou |first1=Elaine |last2=Kao |first2=Evelyn |title=Haitian President Moise visits Taiwan |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/201805270005 |access-date=23 April 2020 |agency=Central News Agency |date=27 May 2018 |archive-date=4 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804111848/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/201805270005 |url-status=live }}
• {{flag|Honduras}}:
• 70px Grand Cross with Gold Star of the Order of Francisco Morazán (2016){{Cite web|title=Honduras president arrives in Taiwan on state visit - Focus Taiwan|url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/201610010020|website=focustaiwan.tw|date=October 2016 |language=zh-Hant-TW|access-date=2020-05-20|archive-date=29 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129213107/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/201610010020|url-status=live}}
• {{flag|Paraguay}}:
• 70px Grand Collar of the National Order of Merit{{Cite web|url=http://www.medal-medaille.com/sold/product_info.php?products_id=260|title=Medal-Medaille, Orders, decorations and medals of the world for sale online|website=www.medal-medaille.com|access-date=9 August 2020|archive-date=10 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310225108/http://www.medal-medaille.com/sold/product_info.php?products_id=260|url-status=live}} (2016){{Cite web|title=President conferred medal in Paraguay - Focus Taiwan|url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/201606290006|website=focustaiwan.tw|date=29 June 2016 |language=zh-Hant-TW|access-date=2020-05-20|archive-date=30 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130094902/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/201606290006|url-status=live}}
• {{Flag|Saint Kitts and Nevis}}
• 70px Order of St Christopher and Nevis (2019){{cite web|url=https://english.president.gov.tw/Page/104|title=Decorations bestowed by ROC allies|access-date=13 April 2020|website=Office of the President of the Republic of China (Taiwan)|archive-date=13 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413035237/https://english.president.gov.tw/Page/104|url-status=live}}

{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite journal |last1=Yang |first1=Wan-Ying |last2=Lee |first2=Kuan-Chen |title=Ready for a Female President in Taiwan? |journal=Journal of Women, Politics & Policy |volume=37 |issue=4 |pages=464–489 |doi=10.1080/1554477X.2016.1192433 |date=July 2016 |s2cid=147731182 }}

{{sister project links|c=category:Tsai Ing-wen |n=no |v=no |b=no |s=no |voy=no |m=no |mw=no |wikt=no |species=no |d=Q233984}}

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{{Presidents of the Republic of China}}

{{Vice premiers of the Republic of China}}

{{Democratic Progressive Party}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tsai, Ing-Wen}}

Category:1956 births

Category:Living people

Category:Politicians of the Republic of China on Taiwan from Taipei

Category:Politicians of the Republic of China on Taiwan from Pingtung County

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