2016 Taiwan presidential election

2016 Taiwan presidential election
沁水湾 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Election name	2016 Taiwan presidential election
Country	Republic of China (Taiwan)
Type	presidential
Previous election	2012 Taiwan presidential election
Previous year	2012
Next election	2020 Taiwan presidential election
Next year	2020
Election date	16 January 2016

2016 Taiwan presidential election was held on 16 January 2016 to elect the President and Vice President of the Republic of China (Taiwan). The contest featured major tickets from the Democratic Progressive Party, the Kuomintang (KMT), and the People First Party, alongside several independent and minor party entries. The election produced a decisive victory that altered party control in the Legislative Yuan and influenced cross-strait relations with the People's Republic of China.

Background

The election followed the second term of President Ma Ying-jeou and the KMT administration that included policy debates over the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement, relations with the People's Republic of China, the Sunflower Student Movement, and economic issues affecting the New Taiwan dollar. Taiwan's constitutional framework under the Constitution of the Republic of China mandates direct popular election of the presidency by the Electoral system of Taiwan, concurrent with legislative contests for the Legislative Yuan. Domestic social movements such as the Sunflower Movement and institutions including the Judicial Yuan, Control Yuan, and Central Election Commission (Taiwan) shaped the political environment. International actors and entities—United States Department of State, European Union, Japan, United Kingdom, United Nations observers, and cross-strait stakeholders like the Chinese Communist Party—monitored implications for the 1992 Consensus and the One-China policy.

Candidates and parties

Major tickets included the Democratic Progressive Party ticket of former Taipei Mayor Tsai Ing-wen with running mate Chen Chien-jen, the Kuomintang (KMT) ticket of Hung Hsiu-chu later replaced by Eric Chu with running mate Cheng Wen-tsan noted through intra-party shifts, and the People First Party aligned figures including party leaders and coalition considerations with politicians such as James Soong. Other notable figures and parties present in the broader political field included independent candidates and parties like the New Power Party, activists from the Sunflower Student Movement, and politicians previously associated with the Taiwan Solidarity Union, People First Party, Non-Partisan Solidarity Union, and civic organizations including Student activism in Taiwan. Institutional actors such as the Central Election Commission (Taiwan), the Ministry of the Interior (Taiwan), and the National Development Council (Taiwan) administered candidate registration and election logistics.

Campaign

Campaign issues revolved around cross-strait relations epitomized by discussion of the 1992 Consensus, trade pacts such as the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement, and Taiwan’s participation in international organizations like the World Health Organization and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. Economic themes included debates on the New Southbound Policy, industrial transformation linked to the Ministry of Economic Affairs (Taiwan), labor disputes connected to the Council of Labor Affairs (Taiwan), and concerns raised by civic groups including the Sunflower Student Movement and the Wild Strawberry Movement. Security and defense topics engaged institutions like the Ministry of National Defense (Taiwan), references to the United States Taiwan Relations Act, and visits or statements involving the United States Secretary of State, Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs, and legislators from the Legislative Yuan. Media coverage spanned outlets such as Taiwan Television (TTV), China Television (CTV), Formosa Television, and online platforms including social media networks, while polling firms and think tanks like the Taiwan Indicators Survey Research and the Brookings Institution provided analysis. Debates featured candidates discussing policy positions on pension reform tied to the Ministry of Finance (Taiwan), education policy implicating the Ministry of Education (Taiwan), and public health coordinated with the Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan).

Opinion polling

Opinion polls conducted by organizations including the Taiwan Indicators Survey Research, TVBS Research, Gallup Taiwan, and academic centers such as the Election Study Center, National Chengchi University tracked voter intention leading up to the vote. Polls varied in methodology referencing the Central Election Commission (Taiwan) regulations and demographic stratification reflecting electorates in major municipalities like Taipei, New Taipei City, Taichung, and Kaohsiung. Analyses by scholars from National Taiwan University, National Chengchi University, and international commentators at institutions such as the Lowy Institute and Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada examined trends in youth turnout, swing voting in constituencies, and the potential impact on the Legislative Yuan composition.

Election results

The results produced a victory for the Democratic Progressive Party ticket led by Tsai Ing-wen, with notable vote shares altering the partisan distribution in the Legislative Yuan and producing a DPP majority. The outcome was widely reported by domestic outlets like United Daily News and international media including The New York Times, BBC News, Reuters, and Al Jazeera. Reactions included statements from regional actors such as the People's Republic of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the United States Department of State, and governments in Japan, European Union, and Australia. Electoral statistics were compiled and published by the Central Election Commission (Taiwan) detailing turnout, vote tallies in constituencies across administrative divisions such as Taoyuan City, Hsinchu County, Yilan County, and indigenous districts administered under the Council of Indigenous Peoples (Taiwan).

Aftermath and government formation

Following the election, the Democratic Progressive Party formed an administration under President-elect Tsai Ing-wen and Vice President Chen Chien-jen, who took office amid policy priorities including the New Southbound Policy, revisions to cross-strait engagement vis-à-vis the 1992 Consensus, and domestic reforms involving the Ministry of Labor (Taiwan) and Ministry of Health and Welfare (Taiwan). Cabinet formation engaged figures from the Executive Yuan (Taiwan), with nominations subject to confirmation by the Legislative Yuan and interactions with Taiwan’s civil society groups and think tanks such as the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy and the Institute for National Policy Research (Taiwan). The transition also affected Taiwan’s international participation in forums like the World Health Assembly and relations with partners under frameworks including the Taiwan Relations Act and bilateral contacts with the United States and Japan.

Category:Elections in Taiwan Category:2016 elections