Chen Shui-bian
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"Chen Shui-bian" is a Taiwanese politician who served as President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) from 2000 to 2008. Chen's election ended more than fifty years of Kuomintang (KMT) control of the Executive Yuan in Taiwan. A native-born Taiwanese, he is colloquially referred to as "A-Bian" (??; ?bi?n; Taiwanese: ??? A-pí?-à).

A lawyer, Chen entered politics in 1980 during the Kaohsiung Incident as a member of the Tangwai movement and was elected to the Taipei City Council in 1981. He was jailed in 1985 for libel as the editor of the weekly pro-democracy magazine Neo-Formosa, following publication of an article critical of Elmer Feng, a college philosophy professor who was later elected a Kuomintang legislator. After being released, Chen helped found the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in 1986 and was elected a member of the Legislative Yuan in 1989, and Mayor of Taipei in 1994.

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I believe that this is not only the view of the people on both sides of the Strait. It is also the common expectation of the US, Japan and the international community.

293

The people of Taiwan have once again written a new page in our history and taken a great step forward in democracy.

212

I expect the ruling and opposition parties to work together for the future of Taiwan.

209

I understand the harsh feelings and sentiments from my opponents and their supporters because I myself have been defeated twice in my political life in the past and I understand very well it is hard to accept your own failure.

190

I have great confidence in the universal value and in basic human rights and I have great confidence that referenda will eventually take root and become part of our daily lives in Taiwan.

188

Also in the new constitution, we want to lower the voting age from 20 years to 18 years and also gradually implement a voluntary military service in replacement of the current compulsory military service.

186

However, I must say that I am very happy to see that we have such a positive result for our first referendum in our history and that gives me more confidence in Taiwan's democracy.

169

We will strive to make Taiwan a better place and enable our people to live better lives.

153

Taiwan is an independent sovereign country.

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