Julian Kuo

Julian Kuo (Chinese: 郭正亮; pinyin: Guō Zhèngliàng; born 24 June 1961) is a Taiwanese political scientist and politician who first served in the Legislative Yuan from 2002 to 2008 and was reappointed to the office in 2016.

In this Chinese name, the family name is Kuo.
Julian Kuo
Kuo Jeng-liang

MLY
郭正亮
Kuo in February 2012
Member of the Legislative Yuan
In office
2 September 2016 – 31 January 2020
Preceded byWellington Koo
ConstituencyRepublic of China
In office
1 February 2002 – 31 January 2008
Succeeded byJustin Chou
ConstituencyTaipei 2
Personal details
Born (1961-06-24) 24 June 1961
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
NationalityTaiwanese
Political partyDemocratic Progressive Party
Alma materNational Taiwan University
Yale University
Occupationpolitician
Professionpolitical scientist

Academic career

Upon graduation from National Taiwan University, Kuo was named an Eisenhower Fellow and furthered his education in the United States, where he earned a Ph.D in political science from Yale University.[1][2] He returned to Taiwan, and began teaching political science at Soochow University in 1993.[3][4]

Political career

Kuo was a member of the Democratic Progressive Party's Formosa faction and later switched affiliations to the New Tide faction.[5][6]

By 1998, Kuo became the executive director of the party's Policy Research and Coordinating Committee.[7] After he had stepped down, Kuo and Lin Cho-shui proposed that the DPP amend its charter to recognize the Republic of China as Taiwan.[8] The initiative failed, and no revisions were made.[9] Shortly after Chen Shui-bian's election to the presidency in 2000, Kuo pushed for cross-party alliances and a coalition government to be formed.[10][11] However, in 2001, Kuo stated that he was opposed to proposals that the Democratic Progressive Party form a coalition government,[12] instead favoring a scenario in which the DPP disbanded and rewrote its party charter to attract a wider base before reregistering as a political party.[13] Kuo was first elected to the Legislative Yuan later that year as a member of the DPP, due to the efforts the party had made to ensure a competitive vote distribution in northern Taiwan by asking supporters to vote for candidates based on the last number in voters' identification cards.[14][15] In his first term Kuo backed a proposal to ban active politicians from owning media outlets and hosting programs.[16] Kuo was tapped to defend the cross-strait relations referendum in March 2004, and faced Jaw Shaw-kong.[17] In his successful December reelection bid, Kuo received NT$26.35 million in political donations, the third highest total of that electoral cycle.[18] In 2006, Kuo skipped a party debate on China policy in protest, as the Chen administration had announced changes without reaching out to the Legislative Yuan.[19] Kuo switched districts for the 2008 legislative elections, choosing to run in Taipei 3 against John Chiang, and lost.[20]

No. Candidate Party Votes Ratio Elected
1 John Chiang Kuomintang 99,959 60.25%
2 Li Lin Yao (李林耀) Taiwan Constitution Association 128 0.08%
3 Sie Fu Mi (謝馥米) Taiwan Solidarity Union 1,854 1.12%
4 Jian Ruei Kuan (簡瑞寬) Taiwan Constitution Association 176 0.11%
5 Julian Kuo Democratic Progressive Party 63,773 38.44%

When Taiwan signed the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement with China in 2010, Kuo was named the spokesman of a DPP-convened committee against the agreement.[21][22] Kuo participated in a primary for Taipei 2 in 2011, but was not selected as DPP candidate for the constituency.[23] He was invited to speak at a political forum held in Hong Kong in August 2016, but authorities there denied him a visa.[24] Kuo returned to the legislature in September, filling Wellington Koo's seat after Koo had resigned to lead the Ill-gotten Party Assets Settlement Committee.[25]

Political stances

Kuo has stated "I'm culturally Chinese but politically not,"[26] described Lee Teng-hui's China policy as "fitful" and "reactive",[27] reiterated support for continued dialogue between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait,[28][29] and has repeatedly advocated for the Democratic Progressive Party to suspend Taiwan independence as a core value.[30][31][32] These actions have led to characterization of his political beliefs as supportive of China, a description he regards as inaccurate.[33]

Kuo has sharply criticized the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement signed in 2010,[34][35] calling it "a travesty of an agreement" that would leave Taiwan too economically dependent on China if the mainland forced other nations to back away from free trade agreements with Taiwan.[36][37]

Kuo is an occasional contributor to the Taipei Times.[38][39][40][41]

References
  1. Chung, Oscar (1 March 2002). "Meet the Freshmen". Taiwan Today. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  2. Mo, Yan-chih (9 April 2009). "DPP pans EasyCard boss for taking study leave in US". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  3. Lu, Myra; Chang, Frank (27 November 1998). "Election trends indicate future of Taiwan politics". Taiwan Today. Archived from the original on 7 November 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016. Alt URL
  4. Lu, Myra (16 June 2000). "Lin opts not to run for DPP chairmanship". Taiwan Today. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  5. Sheng, Virginia (16 January 1998). "DPP's mainland policy sparks intraparty clash". Taiwan Today. Archived from the original on 6 November 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016. Alt URL
  6. Chang, Yun-ping (13 June 2004). "Factions in DPP could be near end". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  7. Sheng, Virginia (27 March 1998). "Cross-strait impasse given close look". Taiwan Today. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  8. Lu, Myra (30 April 1999). "Proposal calls on DPP to recognize 'ROC'; Supporters stress resolution does not suggest change in party ideals". Taiwan Today. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  9. Lu, Myra (8 January 1999). "DPP opts not to revise wording of platform". Taiwan Today. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  10. Lu, Myra (13 October 2000). "New premier puts emphasis on economic stability, coordination". Taiwan Today. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  11. "Making sense of the election". Taipei Times. 24 March 2000. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  12. Huang, Joyce (20 June 2001). "DPP holds discussions on alliances". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  13. Huang, Joyce (14 May 2001). "DPP holds first of coalition meets". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  14. Tsai, Ting-i (14 November 2001). "DPP coordinates its voters' choices". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  15. Ko, Shu-ling (4 February 2002). "Prosecutors to probe vice-speakership race". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  16. Tsai, Ting-i (20 March 2003). "DPP lawmaker wants even tougher media laws". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  17. Ko, Shu-ling (26 February 2004). "CEC announces the line-ups for 10 referendum debates". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  18. "Suspect donations avoiding scrutiny". Taipei Times. 12 May 2005. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  19. Huang, Jewel (24 March 2006). "DPP lawmakers plan to boycott China policy debate". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  20. "Legislative elections and referendums (2008)" (PDF). Taipei Times. 13 January 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  21. Ko, Shu-ling (6 August 2010). "Taiwan, Singapore mull trade accord". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  22. Ko, Shu-ling; Shih, Hsiu-chuan; Chao, Vincent Y. (30 June 2010). "MAC focuses on ECFA termination clause". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  23. Tseng, Wei-chen (20 March 2011). "Tuan Yi-kang bows out of DPP primary for Shilin-Datong". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  24. Chen, Wei-han (24 August 2016). "Former KMT spokesman Yang denied visa for HK". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  25. Hsiao, Alison (3 September 2016). "Julian Kuo sworn in to take over Koo's legislative seat". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  26. "Elusive answers to ethnic issues". Taiwan Today. 4 March 2000. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  27. Dreyer, June Teufel (1 June 2003). "History Will Be the Judge". Taiwan Today. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  28. Hwang, Jim (1 March 1998). "Image Metamorphosis". Taiwan Today. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  29. Sheng, Virginia (20 February 1998). "DPP factions unite in mainland policy meeting". Taiwan Today. Archived from the original on 7 November 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016. Alt URL
  30. Wang, Chris (30 December 2013). "DPP still split over Ker's independence clause plan". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  31. "'Independence clause freeze will help DPP': Kuo". Taipei Times. 23 July 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  32. Loa, Iok-sin (17 June 2016). "Members spark DPP charter debate". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  33. "Former lawmaker denies allegations that he is pro-China". Taipei Times. 13 August 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  34. Chao, Vincent Y. (14 June 2010). "Hundreds of thousands expected to rally against ECFA". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  35. Chao, Vincent Y.; Lowther, William (5 June 2010). "Opposition vows '10-year' ECFA fight". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  36. Kuo, Julian (8 July 2010). "ECFA just can't stand up to scrutiny". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  37. Chung, Oscar (1 June 2010). "Leading Taiwan to a Better Tomorrow". Taiwan Today. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  38. Kuo, Julian (21 November 1999). "Chang benefits Soong'scampaign". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  39. Kuo, Julian (30 June 2013). "DPP is 'all talk and no action'". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  40. Kuo, Julian (12 September 2013). "President runs for win over rival". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  41. Kuo, Julian (5 September 2013). "Answers needed from debate, not posturing". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
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