An op-ed piece under the name of Lien Chan in the International Herald Tribune:
[quote]Taiwan vote: We need a recount and an inquiry
Lien Chan IHT
Thursday, April 1, 2004
Taiwan vote
TAIPEI Until the presidential election on March 20, Taiwan had prided itself on achieving a prosperous economy and a functioning democracy. Indeed, Taiwan served as a prime example of modernization theory: political democracy following economic growth.
But since the vote tallies were announced, Taiwan’s democracy has been called into question. The electoral result was decided by two-tenths of one percent out of a turnout of more than 13 million voters. Since then, tens of thousands of people have gathered in front of the presidential building to show their dissatisfaction with the electoral process.
This round-the-clock demonstration dramatizes the deep divisions in Taiwan’s society. People who voted for the incumbent party feel subdued - why can’t they celebrate the victory? People who voted for the opposition feel angry and betrayed.
Even in the eye of this storm, my mind is lucid and clear. I know what I am fighting for. I am fighting for democracy. It is not about my winning or losing the election.
This election was particularly marred by voting irregularities and a mysterious assassination attempt on President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu on March 19, just hours before balloting time. Most unusually, both were shot at but both walked away with only very minor injuries.
The best way to redress voting irregularities is to have a recount. Progress toward this has been very limited. The court has ordered all ballot boxes sealed, but the opposition and incumbent parties have failed to reach an agreement on the recounting method.
The opposition wants a judicial and total recount. Judicial because the opposition wants the recount panels to be presided over by judges. Total because the opposition has found irregularities in voting activities in many locations.
The incumbent party disagrees and argues for an administrative recount - those who counted the votes on March 20 would do the recounting as well. This is no different than having the player act as the referee. The incumbent party also calls for a recount only of specific ballot boxes.
I have always maintained that if the recount is fair (operationally defined as a judge-refereed recount) and on a full scale, I will abide by the result.
Regarding the mysterious assassination attempt, the opposition demands an independent panel to investigate the matter. The assassination attempt was a singularly decisive factor that influenced people’s voting behavior. There is a litany of unanswered questions surrounding the incident. Evidence presented by government agencies seems to raise more questions than answers.
A related question is the number of military and police personnel who were kept from casting their ballots as the result of the so-called “national security mechanism” activated by the government in the immediate wake of the attack on the president. In the past, nearly all the military and police personnel, totaling nearly half a million people, voted in every election.
The government first provided a figure of 13,000 servicemen who were prevented from voting. The figure was later revised up by the Ministry of Defense to 37,000. We believe there were more, perhaps 200,000 men and women. The issue here is illegally depriving these people of the right to vote.
Our demands for a judicial and total recount as well as an independent investigation panel are issues of transparency. A democratic government’s legitimacy is based on its transparency. This is what I am striving for.
Taiwan has come a long way on the path to democratization. Unfortunately it is being overshadowed by large clouds of secrecy, manipulation and distrust. If they are not cleared away, Taiwan’s democracy will be severely tainted, threatening not only its internal unity, but also external security.
I am in favor of a transparent democracy. Once it is achieved, I’m sure reconciliation and healing will be within reach.[/quote]
The bio line contains a good example of the difficulties that arise in describing Taiwan’s political situation.
“The Taiwanese Nationalist Party”?! 
Although from some perspectives it could be considered correct, it is far more incorrect.
His parents are Shanghainese.
[/quote]