16 Facts About Hsu Hsin-liang

Hsu Hsin-liang is a Taiwanese politician, formerly Chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party.

Hsu Hsin-liang was a supporter of the Pan-Blue Coalition from 2000 to 2008 but then supported the DPP in the 2008 presidential election.

Hsu Hsin-liang attended Hsinchu Senior High School and received his bachelor's degree in political science from National Chengchi University in 1967 and his Kuomintang-sponsored master's degree from the University of Edinburgh in 1969.

Hsu Hsin-liang began his political career in the Kuomintang as a member of the Taiwan Provincial Assembly from 1973 to 1977.

Hsu Hsin-liang was expelled from the Kuomintang but broke ranks in 1977 when he ran and won as an independent in the election for Magistrate of Taoyuan County.

Hsu Hsin-liang was involved in opposition activity during the first part of 1979.

Hsu Hsin-liang later joined the DPP and served as its chairman twice, from 1991 to 1993 and 1996 to 1998.

Hsu Hsin-liang attempted to transform the party from a radical pro-Taiwan independence party to a more moderate and electable political group that no longer supported immediate independence.

Hsu Hsin-liang then ran in the 2000 presidential election as an independent with New Party legislator Josephine Chu as his running mate.

Hsu Hsin-liang believes that maintaining a good relationship with the People's Republic of China is vital for Taiwan's survival and growth, and there is no hurry to negotiate with mainland on political issues at the present.

Hsu Hsin-liang publicly supported Lien Chen and James Soong in the 2004 presidential election.

Hsu Hsin-liang believed firmly that Chen Shui-bian cheated in the election and thought he was now fighting for democracy, just as he did two decades ago.

However, after the KMT won a two-thirds majority of seats in the Legislative Yuan in 2008, Hsu Hsin-liang became concerned about the party reverting to authoritarianism.

Hsu Hsin-liang then came out to support DPP candidate Frank Hsieh in the 2008 presidential election even though he had been connected with the pan-blue coalition camp during much of the period Chen Shui-bian served as president.

Hsu Hsin-liang has been seen at events organized by the DPP since 2008.

In mid-April 2013 during a press conference, Hsu Hsin-liang called for a cross-strait political dialogue to rejuvenate the stagnant economy of Taiwan and for Taiwan to have a grand coalition government, adding that political dialogue with Beijing is not for political purpose, but rather to save the economy of Taiwan.