Lin Pin-kuan explained

Lin Pin-kuan
Native Name Lang:zh-tw
Honorific-Suffix:MLY
Order:Chairman of the Non-Partisan Solidarity Union
Term Start:15 June 2007
Predecessor:Chang Po-ya
Order1:Member of the Legislative Yuan
Term Start1:1 February 1996
Term End1:31 January 2012
Successor1:Yang Yao
Constituency1:Penghu County
Birth Date:15 August 1948
Birth Place:Kaohsiung County, Taiwan
Nationality:Taiwanese
Alma Mater:National Taiwan University
Occupation:politician

Lin Pin-kuan or Peter Lin (; born 15 August 1948) is a Taiwanese politician. First elected to the Legislative Yuan as a member of the Kuomintang in 1995, he continued serving until 2012. In 2004, Lin switched affiliations to the Non-Partisan Solidarity Union, and became chairman of the NPSU in 2007.

Education and early career

Lin studied library science at National Taiwan University.[1] Prior to running for office, he worked in the construction industry.[2]

Political career

Lin served his first two full terms in the Legislative Yuan, representing Penghu County, as a member of the Kuomintang.[3] [4] Lin left the Kuomintang in 2001,[5] and in December, won reelection as an independent. He joined the Kuomintang caucus upon taking office for his third term in 2002.[6] Later that year, Lin voted to confirm Yao Chia-wen as President of the Examination Yuan.[7] Shortly after his vote was cast in opposition to KMT caucus wishes, Lin defected to a caucus convened by independents.[8] In June 2004, Lin joined the Non-Partisan Solidarity Union.[9] [10] Lin won reelection twice thereafter running under the NPSU banner.[11] [12] In November 2010, Lin succeeded Kao Chin Su-mei as convenor of the legislature's Internal Administration Committee.[13] His 2012 legislative bid was unsuccessful.[14]

Political stances

Lin has long supported the establishment of casinos in Penghu County.[15] [16] He stated in 2008 that the intention was not "to attract hardcore gamblers, but to develop casino resorts that will bring families."[17] In 2009, Lin said that his constituents had never discussed opposition to the building of casinos with him, blaming disapproval of the initiative on the Democratic Progressive Party and people from the main island of Taiwan.[18] The proposal was rejected by Penghu County residents via referendum in 2009.[19] [20] In December 2010, Lin proposed an amendment to the Offshore Islands Development Act mandating that the government should provide a living stipend, along with funds for transportation so that students native to Taiwan's outlying islands could return home at the end of the school year.[21] To further ease travel for residents of the outlying islands, Lin moved to amend the Civil Aviation Act, so that travel via certain airports and islands received a larger subsidy.[22]

Notes and References

  1. News: Lin Pin-kuan (5). 4 June 2017. Legislative Yuan.
  2. Book: Dafydd Fell. Fell. Dafydd. Taiwan's Social Movements Under Ma Ying-jeou: From the Wild Strawberries to the Sunflowers. 2017. Taylor & Francis. 9781317198550. 58.
  3. News: Lin Pin-kuan (3). 4 June 2017. Legislative Yuan.
  4. News: Lin Pin-kuan (4). 4 June 2017. Legislative Yuan.
  5. News: Lin. Chieh-yu. Lien rails at talk of a KMT schism. 4 June 2017. Taipei Times. 18 April 2001.
  6. News: Low. Stephanie. President willing to help independents form own caucus. 4 June 2017. Taipei Times. 3 March 2002.
  7. News: Low. Stephanie. KMT alleges foul play over Yao vote. 4 June 2017. Taipei Times. 22 June 2002.
  8. News: Hsu. Crystal. Independents try to form caucus. 4 June 2017. Taipei Times. 2 July 2002.
  9. News: Wu. Debby. Independents anticipate playing a crucial role in legislature. 4 June 2017. Taipei Times. 12 December 2004.
  10. News: Yiu. Cody. Legislator says new party should not be recognized. 4 June 2017. Taipei Times. 17 June 2004.
  11. News: Chiu. Chu-Tzu. Slight shifts in political geography. 4 June 2017. Taipei Times. 12 December 2004.
  12. News: Lu. Meggie. Legislative elections and referendums: Smaller parties suffer a setback. 4 June 2017. Taipei Times. 13 January 2008.
  13. News: Shih. Hsiao-kuang. Legislators scrap Diaoyutais tour. 4 June 2017. Taipei Times. 31 October 2010.
  14. News: Wang. Chris. 2012 ELECTIONS: DPP sues Wu over Yu Chang remarks. 4 June 2017. Taipei Times. 20 December 2011.
  15. News: Tsai. Ting-i. Offshore gambling measures score big among legislators. 4 June 2017. Taipei Times. 16 October 2001.
  16. News: Ko. Shu-ling. Assembly, casino bills get the nod. 4 June 2017. Taipei Times. 19 May 2005.
  17. News: Hazeldine. Richard. FEATURE: Penghu awaits casinos with mixed feelings. 4 June 2017. Taipei Times. 7 December 2008.
  18. News: Shih. Hsiu-chuan. Loa. Iok-sin. Casino activists stage last push. 4 June 2017. Taipei Times. 26 September 2009.
  19. News: Shih. Hsiu-Chuan. ANALYSIS: Analysts say referendum highlights problems. 4 June 2017. Taipei Times. 29 September 2009.
  20. News: Loa. Iok-sin. Residents of Penghu reject casino resort plan. 4 June 2017. Taipei Times. 27 September 2009.
  21. News: Wang. Flora. Progress moving slowly on NHI premium reform. 4 June 2017. Taipei Times. 29 December 2010.
  22. News: Ko. Shu-ling. Penghu residents protest during Ma visit. 4 June 2017. Taipei Times. 13 December 2010.