The Democratic System: From the 1987 Lifting of Martial Law to Lai Ching-te in 2024 — Coordinates of Taiwan's 37 Years of Democracy

30-second overview: Taiwan endured 38 years of authoritarian rule under martial law beginning in 1949. After martial law was lifted on July 15, 1987, the democratization process began¹. Through the first direct presidential election in 1996 (Lee Teng-hui) and the first party rotation in 2000 (Chen Shui-bian), a complete democratic constitutional system was established². On May 17, 2019, Taiwan became the first region in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage³. On January 13, 2024, Lai Ching-te was elected the 16th president with 5.58 million votes (40.05%), alongside Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim⁴, marking the first time the Democratic Progressive Party won three consecutive presidential elections. In the Legislative Yuan election held the same day, the Kuomintang reclaimed its position as the largest party with 52 seats, the DPP won 51 seats, and the Taiwan People's Party won 8 seats — no party held a majority⁵.

From Authoritarianism to Democracy: A Historical Precedent of Peaceful Transition

From the imposition of martial law in 1949 to its lifting in 1987, Taiwan underwent a peaceful democratic transition rarely seen in Chinese-speaking societies. This path has been regarded by many developing countries as an important reference. At the same time, the establishment of democratic institutions ensured the fundamental rights of the people of Taiwan and became central to Taiwan's identity and value system.

Seven Key Milestones

Taiwan's democratization began with political liberalization in the 1980s, progressing through key stages including the lifting of martial law, the opening of party and press bans, and full legislative re-elections. Despite challenges along the way, through the wisdom of political elites and the participation of the people, a constitutional system with five separate branches of government — Executive, Legislative, Examination, and Control — was ultimately established, and multiple peaceful transfers of power were completed.

Seven key milestones form the coordinates of this trajectory: July 15, 1987, when President Chiang Ching-kuo announced the lifting of martial law, ending 38 years of martial law rule; 1996, when the first direct presidential election was held and Lee Teng-hui was elected as the first popularly elected president; 2000, when DPP candidate Chen Shui-bian was elected president, achieving the first peaceful transfer of power; 2008, when KMT candidate Ma Ying-jeou returned to power, establishing party rotation as the norm; 2016, when DPP candidate Tsai Ing-wen was elected, becoming the first woman to serve as president; and January 13, 2024, when Lai Ching-te (DPP) was elected the 16th president with 5.58 million votes (40.05%), alongside Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, marking the first time the DPP won three consecutive presidential elections⁴. In the Legislative Yuan election held the same day, the KMT won 52 seats (reclaiming its position as the largest party), the DPP won 51 seats (losing its majority), and the Taiwan People's Party won 8 seats, creating a new landscape in which no party held a majority⁵.

The Period of Authoritarian Rule

The martial law regime (1949–1987) formed the backdrop for Taiwan's democratization. After the Nationalist government relocated to Taiwan, martial law was imposed, restricting freedoms of assembly, association, speech, and the press, and establishing one-party rule. During the White Terror period, political persecution occurred through events such as the February 28 Incident and the Kaohsiung Incident (Formosa Incident), causing social trauma but also fueling the drive for democratization.

Economic development laid the foundation for democratization. Rapid economic growth in the 1960s–80s cultivated a middle class, and the spread of education raised political participation awareness. International pressure — including withdrawal from the United Nations and the severance of diplomatic relations with the United States — forced those in power to consider the necessity of political reform.

The Process of Democratic Transition

The political liberalization phase (1980s) began with political reforms in the later years of Chiang Ching-kuo's presidency, opening space for tangwai (outside-the-party) activities. The founding of the Democratic Progressive Party in 1986 broke the ban on new political parties. Although the Kaohsiung Incident (1979) led to the imprisonment of democracy activists, the courtroom debates galvanized public support for democracy.

The institutionalization phase (1990s) saw Lee Teng-hui advance a "Quiet Revolution," using constitutional amendments to achieve full legislative re-elections, direct elections of provincial and municipal executives, and direct presidential elections. The 1996 presidential direct election took place under the threat of military intimidation from the PRC, and the people of Taiwan demonstrated their commitment to democracy with a high voter turnout.

The consolidation phase (2000s–present) has seen multiple party rotations, with the democratic system gradually maturing. the Sunflower Student Movement (2014) demonstrated the power of civil society to hold the government accountable⁶; the legalization of same-sex marriage (May 17, 2019) made Taiwan the first region in Asia to achieve this milestone³. The 2024 general election was the first time in Taiwan's democratic history that the same party won three consecutive presidential elections, while simultaneously producing a Legislative Yuan in which no party held a majority, forming a new political structure⁴⁵.

Five-Power Separation and Semi-Presidential System

The Five-Power Constitution adopts Sun Yat-sen's theory of five-power separation, establishing the Executive, Legislative, Judicial, Examination, and Control Yuans. After multiple constitutional amendments, presidential powers have expanded, creating a semi-presidential system with distinctly Taiwanese characteristics. The Legislative Yuan serves as the highest legislative body, elected under a single-district, two-vote system. Local autonomy is implemented through a three-tier structure of central, special municipality/county, and township/city district governments, with special municipality mayors and county/city magistrates directly elected by the people. Regarding the referendum system, amendments in 2018 lowered the threshold for referendums, strengthening the function of direct democracy.

Two Major Parties, Small Parties, and Online Politics

The Kuomintang (KMT) and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) are the two major political parties, representing different positions on cross-strait relations. Smaller parties such as the People First Party, the Taiwan Solidarity Union, and the New Power Party have exerted critical influence during specific periods. In terms of electoral system design, the single-district, two-vote system favors large parties, but the party-list proportional representation system preserves space for smaller parties. Political culture has shifted from the obedience culture of the authoritarian era to a culture of participation, with civil society flourishing. Social media has transformed political mobilization, and the handling of disinformation has become a new challenge for democratic governance.

Unification-Independence Debate, Generational Differences, and Digital Governance

Cross-strait relations continue to influence the development of democratic politics, with the unification-independence debate persistently dividing society. The rise of populism has impacted rational political discussion, and generational differences have widened the gap in values and voting behavior between younger and older generations. Institutional reform demands — including legislative reform, judicial reform, and constitutional reform — aim to respond to societal expectations. At the level of digital governance, new practices such as open government and e-participation are being promoted, with the goal of improving the quality of democracy.

Freedom House Rates Taiwan as a "Free" Country: Taiwan's International Positioning

Taiwan has been hailed as a "democracy miracle" and has long been rated as "Free" by organizations such as Freedom House⁷. Taiwan also actively participates in international democracy promotion, sharing its democratization experience and making democracy, human rights, and the rule of law core values of its diplomacy⁸.

References

Further Reading: Democratization of Taiwan — Wikipedia ｜ 2024 Republic of China Presidential Election — Wikipedia ｜ Freedom House Taiwan Score

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