James Tsai
James Tsai, also known as Tsai Jen-chien (Chinese: 蔡仁堅; born 27 October 1952) is a Taiwanese politician who served as mayor of Hsinchu from 1997 to 2001.
James Tsai Tsai Jen-chien | |
---|---|
蔡仁堅 | |
Mayor of Hsinchu | |
In office 20 December 1997 – 20 December 2001 | |
Deputy | Yang Tzu-pao Lin Cheng-chieh |
Preceded by | Tong Shen-nan |
Succeeded by | Lin Junq-tzer |
Member of the National Assembly | |
In office 1992–1997 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Hsinchu, Taiwan | 27 October 1952
Nationality | Taiwanese |
Political party | Independent |
Other political affiliations | Democratic Progressive Party (1986–2014) |
Occupation | Politician |
Political career
A cofounder of the Democratic Progressive Party,[1] Tsai served on the National Assembly from 1992 to 1997, and was the DPP caucus leader throughout his term.[2][3] The legislative body elected its first speaker and deputy speaker during its 1996 session. Tsai was nominated as the DPP candidate for the deputy speakership, and lost to Shieh Lung-sheng.[4] Tsai was elected mayor of Hsinchu in the 1997 local elections. In October 2000, he became the first elected local government leader from Taiwan to visit China.[5] The next year, Tsai lost his bid for reelection.[6][7] He attempted to run for the position again in 2014, without the backing of the DPP, which expelled him for mounting an independent campaign.[8][9]
2014 Hsinchu City Mayoralty Election Result | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Candidate | Party | Votes | Percentage | ||
1 | Liu Cheng-hsing (劉正幸) | Independent | 1,914 | 0.96% | ||
2 | Hsu Ming-tsai | 75,564 | 37.85% | |||
3 | James Tsai | Independent | 40,480 | 20.28% | ||
4 | Lin Chih-chien | DPP | 76,578 | 38.36% | ||
5 | Wu Shu-min (吳淑敏) | Independent | 5101 | 2.56% | ||
Controversy
During his mayoral term, Tsai was one of many mayors accused of corruption, as he had charged United Microelectronics Corporation a "township chief tax" for community development funds.[10][11]
Soon after leaving office, Tsai was caught in the Chu Mei-feng sex scandal, during which he was represented by attorney Hsu Wen-bin.[12] Tsai and Chu had dated for four years,[13] before the relationship ended in February 2001.[14] Later that year, a sex tape of Chu and married businessman Tseng Chung-ming was released.[15] Prosecutors believed that Tsai and spiritual advisor Kuo Yu-ling asked a detective agency about hidden cameras.[16][17] Tsai was questioned by the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office in January 2002,[18][19] and indicted on 7 February.[20] However, Chu chose to drop the case against Tsai in June.[21]
References
- You, Kai-hsiang; Lee, James (28 September 2014). "DPP expels one of its founding members for running unendorsed". Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 28 September 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
- "Taiwan's opposition plans trip to China". United Press International. 26 June 1992. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- Yu, Susan (19 July 1996). "Assembly contest on vote level". Taiwan Info. Archived from the original on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- Yu, Susan (12 July 1996). "National Assembly elects speaker as session opens". Taiwan Today. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- Ko, Shu-ling (11 February 2001). "Taipei's Ma Ying-jeou: the city statesman". Taipei Times. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
- "Political sex video scandal in Taiwan court". CNN. Reuters. 7 February 2002. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- "Phone call to police links politician to sex-VCD case". Taipei Times. 27 December 2001. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- Wang, Chris (17 July 2014). "DPP optimistic about Taichung election chances". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- Loa, lok-sin (29 September 2014). "DPP turns 28 with symbolic picnic events". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- "Legislator found not guilty of corruption". Taipei Times. 3 January 2001. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- Huang, Joyce (4 January 2001). "DPP wrangles over Hsinchu mayor". Taipei Times. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
- Chuang, Jimmy (20 August 2003). "Judicial Yuan writes `judge law'". Taipei Times. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
- Hsu, Crystal (30 December 2001). "Former Hsinchu mayor will reply". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- "Kuo says she was told to tape Chu". Taipei Times. 31 December 2001. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- Chuang, Jimmy (23 December 2001). "Taipei prosecutors focus on instructor in sex case". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- Chuang, Jimmy (26 December 2001). "Chu gives apology for having `erred'". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- Tsai, Ting-I (29 December 2001). "VCD probe finds tape, spy devices". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- Chuang, Jimmy (29 December 2001). "Police may interrogate ex-mayor". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- Chuang, Jimmy (3 January 2002). "Tsai gets summons in VCD case". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- Chuang, Jimmy (26 July 2002). "Six sentenced in sex-VCD scandal". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- Chuang, Jimmy (27 June 2002). "Chu Mei-feng drops case against former lover Tsai". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
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