Lee Teng-hui (traditional Chinese: 李登輝; simplified Chinese: 李登辉; pinyin: Lǐ Dēnghuī; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lí Teng-hui; born 15 January 1923), sometimes called the "father of Taiwan's democracy", is a politician of the Republic of China (commonly known as Taiwan). He was the President of the Republic of China and Chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT) from 1988 to 2000. He presided over major advancements in democratic reforms including his own re-election which marked the first direct presidential election for the Republic of China. The first native Taiwanese to become ROC president and KMT chairman, Lee promoted the Taiwanese localization movement and led an aggressive foreign policy to gain diplomatic allies. Critics accused him of betraying the party he headed, secret support of Taiwanese independence, and involvement in corruption (black gold politics).
After leaving office Lee was expelled from the KMT for his role in founding the pro-independence Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU), which forms part of the Pan-Green Coalition alongside Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party. (Lee is considered the "spiritual leader" of the TSU.) Lee has been outspoken in support for Taiwanese independence though not necessarily a formal declaration.
Read more about Lee Teng-hui: Early Life and Education, Rise To Power, Presidency, Taiwanization, After The Presidency
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“Oh, I’ve got the prettiest mother. I’ve got the nicest mother. That’s what I tell everybody. I say I’ve got the sweetest mother in the world.”
—John Lee Mahin (1902–1984)