Wikipedia

Cheng Wen-tsan

In this Chinese name, the family name is Cheng.

Cheng Wen-tsan (Chinese: 鄭文燦; pinyin: Zhèng Wéncàn; Wade–Giles: Chêng4 Wên2-tsʻan4; born 6 July 1967) is a Taiwanese politician who has served as the vice premier of the Republic of China (Taiwan) from 2023 to 2024 and chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation briefly in 2024. A member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), he was the first mayor of the newly established Taoyuan special municipality, serving from 2014 to 2022.

Cheng Wen-tsan
鄭文燦
Official portrait, 2023
9th Chairperson of the Straits Exchange Foundation
In office
7 June 2024 – 7 July 2024
PresidentLai Ching-te
DeputyLuo Wen-jia
Rock Hsu
Preceded byDavid Lee
Succeeded byRock Hsu [zh] (acting)
Frank Wu
39th Vice Premier of the Republic of China
In office
31 January 2023 – 20 May 2024
PremierChen Chien-jen
Preceded byShen Jong-chin
Succeeded byCheng Li-chun
1st Mayor of Taoyuan
In office
25 December 2014 – 25 December 2022
DeputyChiu Tai-san
Preceded byPosition established[a]
Succeeded byChang San-cheng
Head of Taoyuan Chapter of the
Democratic Progressive Party
In office
25 December 2009 – 5 July 2014
Chairperson
See list
Preceded byChen Chih-mou
Succeeded byChen Lai Su-mei
23rd Minister of the Government Information Office
In office
25 January 2006 – 20 April 2007
PremierSu Tseng-chang
Preceded byPasuya Yao
Succeeded byYi Rong-zong (acting)
Shieh Jhy-wey
Personal details
Born (1967-07-06) 6 July 1967 (age 57)
Bade, Taoyuan County, Taiwan (now Bade District, Taoyuan City)
Political partyDemocratic Progressive Party
EducationNational Taiwan University (BA)

Early life and education

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Born in present-day Bade District, Taoyuan City, Cheng grew up with 6 siblings and took an after-school job in neighboring Yingge. His father was a civil servant in the Taoyuan government.[1] After attending Taipei Municipal Jianguo High School, Cheng received his bachelor's degree from the Department of Sociology and master's degree from the Graduate Institute of National Development of National Taiwan University (NTU),[2] though his master's degree was later rescinded on plagiarism allegations. During his time at NTU, he was founding president of NTU Student Press (臺大學生報社) and was elected vice president of the student association.[3]

Entry into politics

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Cheng played a key role in the Wild Lily student movement in 1990.[4]

In 1998, Cheng was elected into the Taoyuan County legislature at the age of 30,[5] receiving the most votes out of all candidates.

In the early 2000s, Cheng worked for the DPP's Information and Culture Department.[6] From January 2006 to April 2007, he served as minister of the Government Information Office as part of the first cabinet led by Su Tseng-chang.[7] Cheng resigned from the GIO in April 2007, after vice premier Tsai Ing-wen concluded an investigation into Cheng's influence during a sale of shares in a media company.[8]

Cheng joined the 2009 Taoyuan County magistrate election under the DPP banner on 5 December 2009. However, he lost to Kuomintang opponent John Wu.[9]

Mayor of Taoyuan City (2014–2022)

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Cheng was elected mayor of Taoyuan City after winning the 2014 mayoral election held on 29 November 2014, defeating incumbent Kuomintang (KMT) magistrate John Wu, to whom Cheng lost in 2009.[10][11] Following the election, Cheng appointed Chiu Tai-san and Wang Ming-teh as deputy mayors of Taoyuan.[12]

In April 2017, Cheng's rib was fractured after he was attacked by protesters outside Legislative Yuan who opposed a pension system reform bill.[13] Cheng did not press charges against the perpetrator citing his belief in democratic politics.[14]

In the 2018 elections, Cheng defeated KMT contender Apollo Chen and three independent candidates to win a second term as mayor of Taoyuan.[15]

In October 2022, New Party city council candidate publicly alleged that Cheng had committed plagiarism or hired a ghostwriter to write his master's thesis at NTU. After an investigation by the university, Cheng's thesis was revoked and master's degree rescinded.[3][16]

Post-mayoralty career

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Cheng was elected to chair the Chinese Taipei Football Association in October 2022, following the resignation of Chiou I-jen in August of that year.[17]

Vice-premiership (2023–2024)

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In January 2023, Premier Chen Chien-jen appointed Cheng as vice premier as part of his new cabinet.[18]

Bribery allegations

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In July 2024, Taiwanese authorities announced an investigation into Cheng on suspicion of bribery.[19] Cheng stepped down as chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation on 7 July,[20] with Rock Hsu [zh] succeeding Cheng in an acting capacity.[21]

After a series of bail hearings,[22] Cheng was detained for two months without visitation rights for a period of two months on July 12.[23][24] The Democratic Progressive Party, of which Cheng is a member, suspended him from holding public office for three years.[25] The Taoyuan District Prosecutors' Office indicted Cheng on charges of corruption on 27 August 2024.[26] He was released on bail of NT$28 million the following day.[27]

Honors

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Notes

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  1. ^ John Wu as Magistrate of Taoyuan County

References

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  1. ^ Lee, Jung-ping (15 November 2009). "「給阿嬤的壓歲錢」 鄭文燦談貧困中打拚". Liberty Times. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  2. ^ "The New Cabinet". Taiwan Today. 1 March 2006. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  3. ^ a b Lin, Yi (2 December 2022). "鄭文燦丟了台大碩士 學歷剩什麼？答案曝光仍完爆林智堅". China Times. Archived from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  4. ^ Cheung, Han (11 March 2018). "Taiwan in Time: Life after the Wild Lily". Taipei Times. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  5. ^ Yo, Hao-yu (27 March 2022). "鄭文燦在義光長老教會分享「人生的轉折點」 致力讓桃園成為更好的城市！". Congress News. Archived from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  6. ^ Chang, Yun-Ping (29 September 2003). "At 17 years of age, is DPP ship adrift?". Taipei Times. Archived from the original on 7 March 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  7. ^ Chuang, Jimmy (27 January 2006). "Premier Su enjoys busy first morning in his new office". Taipei Times. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  8. ^ Chuang, Jimmy (4 April 2007). "Premier accepts resignation of GIO minister". Taipei Times. Archived from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  9. ^ 邱俊欽 (5 December 2009). "吳志揚贏得不輕鬆 桃園藍綠板塊拉近". Taiwan News (in Chinese). Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  10. ^ "DPP's Cheng Wen-tsan scores upset victory in Taoyuan election". focustaiwan.tw. 30 November 2014. Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  11. ^ Shan, Shelley Shan (30 November 2014). "2014 ELECTIONS: KMT's John Wu loses Taoyuan re-election bid". Taipei Times. Archived from the original on 10 December 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  12. ^ Lo, Chi-hao James (16 December 2014). "DPP mayors-elect finalize early cabinet list". China Post. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  13. ^ Wen, Kui-hsiang; Chang, S.C. (24 April 2017). "Taoyuan mayor gets broken ribs during April 19 legislative melee". Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  14. ^ Shih, Hsiao-kuang (26 April 2017). "Taoyuan Mayor says no charges for protesters". Taipei Times. Archived from the original on 27 April 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  15. ^ Shan, Shelley (25 November 2018). "2018 ELECTIONS: Taoyuan Mayor Cheng defeats four challengers". Taipei Times. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  16. ^ Lu, Hsin-chih (2 December 2022). "確定了！鄭文燦論文抄襲遭撤學位 台大證實：已函報教育部". TVBS. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  17. ^ Pan, Jason (9 October 2022). "Taoyuan mayor becomes CTFA head". Taipei Times. Archived from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  18. ^ Wen, Kuai-hsiang (25 January 2023). "陳建仁組閣 鄭文燦內定副院長 林右昌掌內政部". CNA. Archived from the original on 11 May 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  19. ^ "Taiwan probes senior official who deals with China over bribery suspicions". Voice of America. Reuters. 2024-07-06. Archived from the original on 2024-07-06. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
  20. ^ Yeh, Sophia; Wu, Po-wei; Wu, Kuan-hsien (7 July 2024). "Former Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan steps down as SEF chair". Central News Agency. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  21. ^ Lai, Sunny (18 July 2024). "Rock Hsu appointed acting SEF chairman: MAC". Central News Agency. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  22. ^ see: Liu, Shih-yi; Yeh, Su-ping; Kao, Evelyn. "Bail for former Taoyuan mayor overturned by High Court". Central News Agency. Retrieved 28 August 2024. Wu, Jui-chi; Wu, Kuan-hsien (9 July 2024). "District court again grants bail to ex-vice premier accused of corruption". Central News Agency. Retrieved 28 August 2024. Wu, Jui-chi; Wu, Kuan-hsien (9 July 2024). "District court again grants bail to ex-vice premier accused of corruption (update)". Central News Agency. Retrieved 28 August 2024. Hsieh, Hsin-an; Kao, Evelyn (10 July 2024). "High court revokes bail for former vice premier a second time". Central News Agency. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  23. ^ Yeh, Chen; Kao, Evelyn (11 July 2024). "Court orders detention of ex-vice premier over corruption allegations". Central News Agency. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  24. ^ Liu, Shih-yi; Lai, Sunny (12 July 2024). "High court rejects former vice premier's appeal against detention". Central News Agency. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  25. ^ 中央通訊社 (2024-07-11). "鄭文燦疑涉貪收押禁見 民進黨廉政會：12日起停權3年 | 政治". Central News Agency (in Chinese). Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  26. ^ Wang, Flor; Yeh, Chen (27 August 2024). "12 years sought for ex-vice premier in bribery case". Central News Agency. Retrieved 28 August 2024. Republished as: "Ex-vice premier faces bribe charge". Taipei Times. 28 August 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  27. ^ Thompson, James; Yeh, Chen (28 August 2024). "Former Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan released on NT$28 million bail". Central News Agency. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  28. ^ Wang, Flor; Wen, Kuei-shang (14 May 2024). "Outgoing President Tsai honors VP Lai, 12 other officials". Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
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Political offices
Preceded byas Magistrate of Taoyuan County Mayor of Taoyuan
2014–2022 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Vice Premier of the Republic of China
2023–2024 		Succeeded by
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