James Tsai Explained

James Tsai
Tsai Jen-chien
Native Name Lang:zh-tw
Smallimage:Hsin Chu Mayor James Tsai.png
Order:Mayor of Hsinchu
Deputy:Yang Tzu-pao
Lin Cheng-chieh
Term Start:20 December 1997
Term End:20 December 2001
Predecessor:Tong Shen-nan
Successor:Lin Junq-tzer
Order1:Member of the National Assembly
Term Start1:1992
Term End1:1997
Birth Date:1952 10, df=yes
Birth Place:Hsinchu, Taiwan
Party:Independent
Nationality:Taiwanese
Occupation:Politician

James Tsai, also known as Tsai Jen-chien (; born 27 October 1952) is a Taiwanese politician who served as mayor of Hsinchu from 1997 to 2001.

Political career

A cofounder of the Democratic Progressive Party,[1] Tsai served on the National Assembly from 1992 to 1997, and was the DPP caucus leader throughout his term.[2] [3] The legislative body elected its first speaker and deputy speaker during its 1996 session. Tsai was nominated as the DPP candidate for the deputy speakership, and lost to Shieh Lung-sheng.[4] Tsai was elected mayor of Hsinchu in the 1997 local elections. In October 2000, he became the first elected local government leader from Taiwan to visit China.[5] The next year, Tsai lost his bid for reelection.[6] [7] He attempted to run for the position again in 2014, without the backing of the DPP, which expelled him for mounting an independent campaign.[8] [9]

2014 Hsinchu City Mayoralty Election Result
width=35No.width=180Candidatewidth=120Partywidth=75Voteswidth=75Percentagewidth=49
1Liu Cheng-hsing (劉正幸)Independent1,9140.96%
2Hsu Ming-tsaiKMT75,56437.85%
3James TsaiIndependent40,48020.28%
4Lin Chih-chienDPP76,57838.36%
5Wu Shu-min (吳淑敏)Independent51012.56%

Controversy

During his mayoral term, Tsai was one of many mayors accused of corruption, as he had charged United Microelectronics Corporation a "township chief tax" for community development funds.[10] [11]

Soon after leaving office, Tsai was caught in the Chu Mei-feng sex scandal, during which he was represented by attorney Hsu Wen-bin.[12] Tsai and Chu had dated for four years,[13] before the relationship ended in February 2001.[14] Later that year, a sex tape of Chu and married businessman Tseng Chung-ming was released.[15] Prosecutors believed that Tsai and spiritual advisor Kuo Yu-ling asked a detective agency about hidden cameras.[16] [17] Tsai was questioned by the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office in January 2002,[18] [19] and indicted on 7 February.[20] However, Chu chose to drop the case against Tsai in June.[21]

Notes and References

  1. News: You. Kai-hsiang. Lee. James. DPP expels one of its founding members for running unendorsed. 17 May 2016. Central News Agency. 28 September 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20161011131033/http://focustaiwan.tw/search/201409270028.aspx. 11 October 2016. Alt URL
  2. News: Taiwan's opposition plans trip to China. 16 May 2016. United Press International. 26 June 1992.
  3. News: Yu. Susan. Assembly contest on vote level. 19 May 2016. Taiwan Info. 19 July 1996. https://web.archive.org/web/20160623225112/http://taiwaninfo.nat.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=14361&ctNode=103. 23 June 2016. dead.
  4. News: Yu. Susan. National Assembly elects speaker as session opens. 16 May 2016. Taiwan Today. 12 July 1996. https://web.archive.org/web/20160807172812/http://www.taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=14341&ctNode=451. 7 August 2016. dead.
  5. News: Ko. Shu-ling. Taipei's Ma Ying-jeou: the city statesman. 20 April 2017. Taipei Times. 11 February 2001.
  6. News: Political sex video scandal in Taiwan court. 16 May 2016. Reuters. CNN. 7 February 2002.
  7. News: Phone call to police links politician to sex-VCD case. 16 May 2016. Taipei Times. 27 December 2001.
  8. News: Wang. Chris. DPP optimistic about Taichung election chances. 16 May 2016. Taipei Times. 17 July 2014.
  9. News: Loa. lok-sin. DPP turns 28 with symbolic picnic events. 16 May 2016. Taipei Times. 29 September 2014.
  10. News: Legislator found not guilty of corruption. 16 May 2016. Taipei Times. 3 January 2001.
  11. News: Huang. Joyce. DPP wrangles over Hsinchu mayor. 20 May 2016. Taipei Times. 4 January 2001.
  12. News: Chuang. Jimmy. Judicial Yuan writes `judge law'. 9 October 2016. Taipei Times. 20 August 2003.
  13. News: Hsu. Crystal. Former Hsinchu mayor will reply. 16 May 2016. Taipei Times. 30 December 2001.
  14. News: Kuo says she was told to tape Chu. 16 May 2016. Taipei Times. 31 December 2001.
  15. News: Chuang. Jimmy. Taipei prosecutors focus on instructor in sex case. 16 May 2016. Taipei Times. 23 December 2001.
  16. News: Chuang. Jimmy. Chu gives apology for having `erred'. 16 May 2016. Taipei Times. 26 December 2001.
  17. News: Tsai. Ting-I. VCD probe finds tape, spy devices. 16 May 2016. Taipei Times. 29 December 2001.
  18. News: Chuang. Jimmy. Police may interrogate ex-mayor. 16 May 2016. Taipei Times. 29 December 2001.
  19. News: Chuang. Jimmy. Tsai gets summons in VCD case. 16 May 2016. Taipei Times. 3 January 2002.
  20. News: Chuang. Jimmy. Six sentenced in sex-VCD scandal. 16 May 2016. Taipei Times. 26 July 2002.
  21. News: Chuang. Jimmy. Chu Mei-feng drops case against former lover Tsai. 16 May 2016. Taipei Times. 27 June 2002.