Tai Chen-yao explained

Tai Chen-yao
Native Name Lang:zh-tw
Honorific-Suffix:MLY
Caption:Tai was awarded the Order of Brilliant Star in September 2017
Nationality:Taiwanese
Order1:Vice Minister of the Council of Agriculture
Term Start1:2003
Term End1:2005
1Blankname1:Minister
1Namedata1:Lee Chin-lung
Successor1:Lin Kuo-hua
Order2:Member of the Legislative Yuan
Constituency2:Republic of China
Term Start2:1 February 1999
Term End2:31 January 2002
Constituency3:Republic of China
Term Start3:1 February 1993
Term End3:31 January 1996
Constituency4:Farmers
Term Start4:1 February 1990
Term End4:31 January 1993
Birth Date:2 April 1948
Birth Place:Ciaotou, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Death Place:Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Party:Democratic Progressive Party

Tai Chen-yao (; 2 April 1948 – 19 November 2017) was a Taiwanese politician. He served three terms in the Legislative Yuan, from 1990 to 1996 and again from 1999 to 2002, and was later named vice chairman of the Council of Agriculture.

Early life and education

Tai was born in Baishu, Ciaotou, Kaohsiung, on 2 April 1948. He attended schools in his native Kaohsiung and later studied at the University of San Diego.[1] Taiwanese Hokkien was his first language.[2]

Career

In 1969, while Tai was completing his military service in Penghu, he supported the independent legislative campaign of by distributing pamphlets. Tai was forced to stop within five minutes and subject to two weeks confinement, but not formally reported by his superior officer. Tai was subsequently employed by the Chinese Petroleum Corporation (CPC). In 1978, he ran for and won a seat on the Ciaotou Township Council, despite opposition from his Kuomintang-affiliated bosses at CPC.[3] Tai, a farmer's rights and tangwai activist, was held at Hotel Saltwater, tried in a Taipei court, and imprisoned for three years for his actions during the Kaohsiung Incident in 1979.[3] [4] Upon his release, Tai organized a group of farmers from Ciaotou who became active advocates against exploitation of farmers, drew attention to industrial pollution, and protested governmental actions during international trade negotiations that affected farmers.[3] He was elected to the Legislative Yuan for the first time in 1989, representing the functional constituency for farmers.[5] His candidacy was backed by the Farmers' Rights Association, the organization that led the . During that election cycle, Tai became the first candidate in 40 years to win election from the agricultural constituency without the support of the Kuomintang.[6] In April 1992, Tai was injured in a physical altercation on the floor of the Legislative Yuan, which required hospitalization.[7] In the December 1992 legislative elections, Tai retained his legislative seat as an at-large candidate on the party list of the Democratic Progressive Party.[5] [8] The DPP's New Tide faction supported his campaign for a second consecutive term.[9] Tai served his third and final term on the Legislative Yuan from 1999 to 2002.[1] By March 2003, Tai was vice chairman of the Council of Agriculture.[10] In his COA position, Tai discussed conservation initiatives related to the black-faced spoonbill,[11] the price of the 2003 rice crop,[12] the rescue of stray dolphins in Tamsui River,[13] and promoted Arbor Month and honey made from longan.[14] [15] Tai was formally sworn in as COA vice chairman in June 2004,[16] after which he inspected damage from Typhoon Mindulle alongside premier Yu Shyi-kun.[17] Upon learning that Formosan rock macaques were damaging crops, Tai stated in October 2004 that the Council of Agriculture would establish a task force to confront the issue.[18] In April 2005, Tai cautioned Taiwanese farmers against exporting to China, as a formal agreement on tariffs had not yet been signed.[19] Soon after the 2005 Pan-Blue visits to mainland China, Tai announced in June 2005 that the Council of Agriculture would be negotiating an agreement for the import of Taiwan-grown fruits to China.[20]

Legacy

Tai was awarded the Order of Brilliant Star in 2017, and died of pancreatic cancer on 19 November of that year, aged 69.[21] The 2024 series Hotel Saltwater, a fictionalization of Tai's life, aired on Public Television Service.[3]

Notes and References

  1. News: Tai Chen-yao (4). 12 September 2017. Legislative Yuan.
  2. News: Speaking Hokkien sets lawmakers' tongues wagging. 12 September 2017. Taipei Times. 1 May 2001.
  3. News: Han Cheung . Taiwan in Time: The farmer’s champion . 4 March 2024 . Taipei Times . 3 March 2024.
  4. News: Tseng. Wei-chen. FEATURE: Days of political prisoner legislators near their end. 12 September 2017. Taipei Times. 24 July 2011.
  5. Book: Shelley Rigger . Rigger . Shelley . From Opposition to Power: Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party . 2001 . Lynne Rienner Publishers . 9781555879693 . 81 .
  6. The opposition makes major gains . Taiwan Communiqué . 43 . 4 . 1027-3999.
  7. Fistfights in session ... and the DPP pulls out . Taiwan Communiqué . June 1991 . 50 . 15 .
  8. News: Tai Chen-yao (2) . 13 July 2020 . Legislative Yuan.
  9. Non-regional seats . Taiwan Communiqué . October 1992 . 56 . 13 .
  10. News: Train service resumes . 13 July 2020 . Taipei Times . 10 March 2003.
  11. News: Spoonbill die-off to hatch special unit . 13 July 2020 . Taipei Times . 2 April 2003.
  12. News: Wu . Debby . Farmers protest low rice price . 13 July 2020 . Taipei Times . 1 November 2003.
  13. News: Chiu . Yu-tzu . Stray dolphins to be rescued from Tamshui river today . 13 July 2020 . Taipei Times . 5 March 2005.
  14. News: Chen launches Arbor Month drive . 13 July 2020 . Taipei Times . 8 February 2004.
  15. News: Chiu . Yu-Tzu . Alien counting on us to eat more chicken and honey . 13 July 2020 . Taipei Times . 29 March 2004.
  16. News: Lin . Chieh-yu . Chen swears in Wu, other new top officials . 13 July 2020 . Taipei Times . 9 June 2004.
  17. News: Premier inspects forest damaged by Mindulle . 13 July 2020 . Taipei Times . 25 July 2004.
  18. News: Farmers up in arms over damage caused by protected monkey . 13 July 2020 . Taipei Times . 7 October 2004.
  19. News: COA warns farmers on China offer . 13 July 2020 . 20 April 2005.
  20. News: Fruit export talks to be held . 13 July 2020 . Taipei Times . 12 June 2005.
  21. News: Tsai pledges to carry out last wishes of farmer's rights activist. 20 November 2017. Radio Taiwan International. 19 November 2017.