1. Early Life and Education
Cheng Cheng-chien was born on May 31, 1969, in Hsinchu, Taiwan. He completed his secondary education at National Hsinchu Senior High School. Following high school, he pursued higher education at National Chengchi University, where he specialized in both journalism and diplomacy. He further advanced his academic qualifications by earning a master's degree from National Chengchi University's Graduate Institute of East Asian Studies. Subsequently, he undertook doctoral studies at Chung Hua University. After completing his studies, Cheng returned to academia, serving as an assistant professor at both Chung Hua University and Hsuan Chuang University.
2. Political Career
Cheng Cheng-chien's political career has involved various roles, beginning at the local level in Hsinchu and later advancing to the national legislature.
2.1. Hsinchu City Council Tenure
Cheng served as a member of the Hsinchu City Council for an extended period, from 2002 to 2020. He first secured a seat on the council in 2002, running successfully as a candidate for the Kuomintang (KMT). His affiliation with the Kuomintang was initially clear, but in the 2005 local elections, Cheng was listed as an independent candidate. However, he later rejoined the Kuomintang, campaigning under their banner in the 2009 election cycle. He continued to hold his seat on the Hsinchu City Council, successfully retaining it in both the 2014 and 2018 elections as a Kuomintang candidate, demonstrating consistent local support throughout his nearly two-decade tenure.
2.2. Legislative Yuan Elections and Controversies
Cheng Cheng-chien made several attempts to secure a seat in the Legislative Yuan, Taiwan's national legislature. These campaigns were often met with intense competition and were at times embroiled in notable controversies.
2.2.1. 2004 and 2016 Legislative Elections
In the 2004 legislative election, Cheng contested a Legislative Yuan seat representing Hsinchu. He ran as an independent candidate but was ultimately unsuccessful in securing a position. His next major bid for a legislative seat came in the 2016 legislative election, where he ran as the Kuomintang candidate for the Hsinchu City Constituency. He had secured this nomination after winning a party primary against Lu Hsueh-chang. During this election, Cheng faced significant opposition from New Power Party candidate Chiu Hsien-chih and the incumbent Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate, Ker Chien-ming.
The 2016 campaign was marked by several controversies. In December 2015, the Democratic Progressive Party accused Cheng and the Kuomintang of engaging in vote-buying during a banquet hosted by the Hsinchu City chapter of the Kuomintang. Cheng attended the event wearing a vest promoting his campaign, which fueled suspicions. This led to an investigation by the Hsinchu District Prosecutors' Office. Following this, the Democratic Progressive Party filed a lawsuit against then-Kuomintang chair Eric Chu at the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office, directly linking him to the alleged vote-buying activities. The vote-buying allegations became a prominent topic of discussion during a televised presidential debate between Eric Chu and Tsai Ing-wen, further escalating the issue's visibility and demonstrating the deep concern over democratic integrity.
Additionally, during his 2016 campaign, pamphlets distributed by Cheng's supporters were confiscated by Hsinchu police. Cheng protested the confiscation, but the Hsinchu District Prosecutors' Office upheld the action, stating that the pamphlets warranted further investigation because they contained distortions and sensationalist allegations specifically targeting his opponent, Ker Chien-ming. Such actions raised concerns about fair campaigning practices and the spread of misinformation in political contests.
2.2.2. 2020 Legislative Election and Subsequent Activities
In the lead-up to his 2020 campaign, Cheng Cheng-chien publicly highlighted what he perceived as a double standard, accusing the Democratic Progressive Party of labeling him as pro-China. He contended that his opponent, Cheng Hung-huei, had used the term "Taiwan, China" when establishing a business in China, yet campaigned on a promise to "Protect Taiwan." This accusation underscored the complex and often contentious nature of cross-strait relations and national identity in Taiwanese politics.
Despite the controversies and political skirmishes, Cheng Cheng-chien was successfully elected to the 10th Legislative Yuan in 2020. Upon taking his seat, he became a member of the legislature's Education and Culture Committee, a significant role that involves oversight of educational and cultural policies. However, his tenure in the Legislative Yuan soon faced new allegations. In July 2020, New Power Party chair Hsu Yung-ming publicly called for Cheng to step down from his role on the committee. This demand followed accusations made by Huang Kuo-chang of significant plagiarism in a portion of Cheng's doctoral thesis. These plagiarism allegations again brought scrutiny to his academic and ethical standing, raising questions about accountability for public figures.
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