New Party (Taiwan)



The New Party (NP; ; Hakka: Sîn Tóng), formerly the Chinese New Party (CNP), is a Chinese nationalist political party in the Republic of China (Taiwan).

The New Party was established in 1993 due to a split from the Kuomintang by members of the New Kuomintang Alliance, who were dissatisfied with Kuomintang Chairman Lee Teng-hui. In the 2000 presidential elections, the party symbolically nominated Li Ao as its candidate, but both Li and the party encouraged party members to support former Kuomintang member James Soong. It won one seat in the 2001 legislative elections, and saw significant support in the 2005–06 municipal elections, though its influence has waned since then.

The New Party is considered to be on the right-wing or the far-right of the political spectrum. It strongly supports unification with China under the "one country, two systems" formula and opposes Taiwanese independence. The New Party's "one country, two systems" plan proposes to establish a unified Chinese nation between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China. The Party's proposal also includes that after reunification, Taiwan would reduce the size of its military, stop purchasing U.S. equipment, and criminalize Taiwanese independence.

History
The New Party was formed on 22 August 1993 out of a split from the then-ruling Kuomintang (KMT) by members of the New Kuomintang Alliance. Members of the Alliance had accused KMT Chairman Lee Teng-hui of autocratic tendencies and moving the party away from Chinese unification. Co-founders of the New Party included Chen Kuei-miao. Originally, the party wanted to keep the name of the faction, but was prevented from doing so due to the similarity of names. The name "New Party" was seemingly inspired by the contemporary electoral success of the Japan New Party.

At this time, the party favored direct presidential elections, the ideals of Sun Yat-sen, voluntary service instead of military service, and "equal protection of human rights." The party also called for direct flights between Taiwan and the mainland, speaking of a "Great Chinese Common Market."

In the mid-1990s, the New Party attracted support from the KMT old guard as well as young urban professionals. The New Party was aided by former Finance Minister Wang Chien-shien and former Environmental Protection Administration Director Jaw Shaw-kong, who had charismatic and clean images.

In the 2000 presidential election, the party nominated writer and dissident Li Ao, who ran a spirited but token campaign. In the election, most members of the party supported former provincial governor James Soong, who ran as an independent candidate after losing the KMT nomination and subsequently being expelled from the KMT, and in fact both Li Ao and the New Party leader Lee Ching-hua encouraged people to support him. In the 2001 Legislative Yuan election, the party won a single seat, Wu Cherng-dean's, in Kinmen.

In the 2005–06 municipal elections, the New Party made significant gains, seating over a dozen members into public office. The New Party also gained four seats in the Taipei Mayor's private offices.

Since the 2008 Legislative Yuan elections, the New Party has not won any seats, while the party supported most of the KMT candidates.

Ideology and policies
The New Party considered to be to be a right-wing or far-right political party. It strongly opposes Taiwanese independence and supports Chinese unification. Since 1997, the NP has switched to the Chinese ultranationalist position, also considered pro-Beijing.

In August 2019, New Party Chairman Yok Mu-ming announced a proposal to unify China under the "one country, two systems" principle. Under the party's plan, the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China would be united as one country, and the country's name and flag would be determined by common consultations; Yok suggested "China" as the common name. The proposal includes post-unification goals such as maintaining a multi-party political system, a legal ban on the Taiwanese independence movement, reducing the size of Taiwan's armed forces, inclusion of Taiwanese representatives in China's delegation to the United Nations, and integration of Taiwanese business in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Leaders

 * Convenors of the New Party National Committee
 * Jaw Shaw-kong (August 1993 – May 1994)
 * Yok Mu-ming (May 1994 – October 1994)
 * Wang Chien-shien (October 1994 – August 1995)
 * Chen Kuei-miao (August 1995 – August 1997)
 * Chou Yang-shan (August 1997 – August 1998)
 * Chen Kuei-miao (August 1998 – December 1998)
 * Feng Ting-kuo (acting; December 1998 – January 1999)
 * Lee Ching-hua (January 1999 – March 2000)
 * Hau Lung-pin (March 2000 – March 2001)
 * Hsieh Chi-ta (March 2001 – December 2001)
 * Levi Ying (acting; December 2001 – January 2002)
 * Yok Mu-ming (January 2002 – June 2003)
 * Chairmen of the New Party
 * Yok Mu-ming (June 2003 – 21 February 2021)
 * Wu Cherng-dean (since 21 February 2021)
 * Vice chairmen of the New Party
 * Lee Sheng-feng (since 2016)