Cheng Wen-tsan

Cheng Wen-tsan (born 6 July 1967) is a Taiwanese politician who has served as the vice premier of Taiwan from from 2023 to 2024 and chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation briefly in 2024. A member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), he was the first mayor of the newly established Taoyuan special municipality, serving from 2014 to 2022.

Early life and education
Born in present-day Bade District, Taoyuan City, Cheng grew up with 6 siblings and took an after-school job in neighboring Yingge. His father was a civil servant in the Taoyuan government. After attending Taipei Municipal Jianguo High School, Cheng received his bachelor's degree from the Department of Sociology and master's degree from the Graduate Institute of National Development of National Taiwan University (NTU), though his master's degree was later rescinded on plagiarism allegations. During his time at NTU, he was founding president of NTU Student Press (臺大學生報社) and was elected vice president of the student association.

Entry into politics
Cheng played a key role in the Wild Lily student movement in 1990.

In 1998, Cheng was elected into the Taoyuan County legislature at the age of 30, receiving the most votes out of all candidates.

In the early 2000s, Cheng worked for the DPP's Information and Culture Department. From January 2006 to April 2007, he served as minister of the Government Information Office as part of the first cabinet led by Su Tseng-chang. Cheng resigned from the GIO in April 2007, after vice premier Tsai Ing-wen concluded an investigation into Cheng's influence during a sale of shares in a media company.

Cheng joined the 2009 Taoyuan County magistrate election under the DPP banner on 5 December 2009. However, he lost to Kuomintang opponent John Wu.

Mayor of Taoyuan City (2014–2022)
Cheng was elected mayor of Taoyuan City after winning the 2014 mayoral election held on 29 November 2014, defeating incumbent Kuomintang (KMT) magistrate John Wu, to whom Cheng lost in 2009. Following the election, Cheng appointed Chiu Tai-san and Wang Ming-teh as deputy mayors of Taoyuan.

In April 2017, Cheng's rib was fractured after he was attacked by protesters outside Legislative Yuan who opposed a pension system reform bill. Cheng did not press charges against the perpetrator citing his belief in democratic politics.

In the 2018 elections, Cheng defeated KMT contender Apollo Chen and three independent candidates to win a second term as mayor of Taoyuan.

In October 2022, New Party city council candidate publicly alleged that Cheng had committed plagiarism or hired a ghostwriter to write his master's thesis at NTU. After an investigation by the university, Cheng's thesis was revoked and master's degree rescinded.

Post-mayoralty career
Cheng was elected to chair the Chinese Taipei Football Association in October 2022, following the resignation of Chiou I-jen in August of that year.

Vice-premiership (2023–2024)
In January 2023, Premier Chen Chien-jen appointed Cheng as vice premier as part of his new cabinet.

Bribery allegations
In July 2024, Taiwanese authorities announced an investigation into Cheng on suspicion of bribery. Cheng stepped down as chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation on 7 July.

Cheng was then detained for two months without visitation rights for a period of two months on July 12. As of July 13, an investigation into corruption allegations levelled against Cheng are ongoing. The Democratic Progressive Party, of which Cheng is a member, suspended him from holding public office for three years on the basis that prosecutors suspicion of his guilt of bribery was serious.

Honors

 * 2024 Order of Brilliant Star with Special Grand Cordon