Cheng Wen-tsan | |
---|---|
鄭文燦 | |
9th Chairperson of the Straits Exchange Foundation | |
Assuming office 20 May 2024 | |
Succeeding | David Lee |
39th Vice Premier of Taiwan | |
Assumed office 31 January 2023 | |
Premier | Chen Chien-jen |
Preceded by | Shen Jong-chin |
Succeeded by | Cheng Li-chun (designate) |
1st Mayor of Taoyuan | |
In office 25 December 2014 – 25 December 2022 | |
Deputy | Chiu Tai-san |
Preceded by | Position established [a] |
Succeeded by | Chang San-cheng |
Head of Taoyuan Chapter of the Democratic Progressive Party | |
In office 25 December 2009 – 5 July 2014 | |
Chairperson | See list |
Preceded by | Chen Chih-mou |
Succeeded by | Chen Lai Su-mei |
23rd Minister of the Government Information Office | |
In office 25 January 2006 – 20 April 2007 | |
Premier | Su Tseng-chang |
Preceded by | Pasuya Yao |
Succeeded by | Yi Rong-zong (acting) Shieh Jhy-wey |
Personal details | |
Born | Bade, Taoyuan County, Taiwan (now Bade District, Taoyuan City) | 6 July 1967
Political party | Democratic Progressive Party |
Alma mater | National Taiwan University |
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 Taiwan [b] since 2023 and the chairman-designate of the Straits Exchange Foundation since 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.
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Institute of National Development of National Taiwan University (NTU), [2] though his master's degree was later rescinded on plagiarism allegations.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]
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]
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]
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]
In January 2023, Premier Chen Chien-jen appointed Cheng as vice premier as part of his new cabinet. [18]