[20050110]RS21770_2004年台湾：选举、公民投票和其他民主挑战.pdf

Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS21770Updated January 10, 2005Taiwan in 2004: Elections, Referenda, andOther Democratic Challenges Kerry DumbaughSpecialist in Asian AffairsForeign Affairs, Defense, and Trade DivisionSummaryIn a low voter turnout in legislative elections on December 11, 2004, the oppositionNationalist Party (KMT) increased its legislative majority against the ruling DemocraticProgressive Party (DPP). This means that DPP President Chen Shui-bian, who was re-elected to a second term on March 20, 2004, again will not be able to count onlegislative support for his policies in his second and final term. In both the presidentialand legislative election campaigns, Chen emphasized gaining a separate internationalidentity for Taiwan an emphasis to which Beijing strenuously objected asdangerously close to declaring Taiwan independence from China. While Chensstrategy appeared to gain the DPP electoral momentum in March, it may have had theopposite electoral effect in December. In response to his partys defeat at the polls,Chen resigned as DPP party chair on December 15, 2004. He is expected to