Frank Hsieh

1.1. Childhood and academic background

Born in Dadaocheng, Taipei, in 1946, Frank Hsieh was the second of five sons to a father who practiced traditional Chinese medicine. During his secondary education, Hsieh was an avid gymnast, winning a championship in the rings event at the Taiwan Provincial Games. Before attending university, he also worked as a food vendor. He earned a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from National Taiwan University. Following a year of graduate studies in law at National Taiwan University and completing a period of ROTC education, Hsieh received a scholarship from Japan's Ministry of Education. He then pursued advanced studies at the Graduate School of Law at Kyoto University in Japan, specializing in legal philosophy under the guidance of Professor Shinpei Kato. He obtained a master's degree and completed his doctoral coursework, though he did not complete his dissertation, returning to Taiwan in November 1976 due to his father's deteriorating health.

1.2. Early legal career

Frank Hsieh practiced as an attorney from 1969 to 1981. During this period, he became associated with the "China Comparative Law Society" (now the Taiwan Law Society), which was founded by Yao Chia-wen and others, and through which he met future political allies such as Chen Shui-bian and Su Tseng-chang. His involvement in the legal defense of political dissidents, notably defending Yao Chia-wen in the martial courts following the Kaohsiung Incident of 1979, was a pivotal moment that spurred his entry into politics. This experience exposed him to the realities of the Kuomintang's authoritarian rule and fueled his determination to advocate for democracy.

2.1. Founding of the Democratic Progressive Party

Prior to the official establishment of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in 1986, Frank Hsieh was a prominent figure in the Tangwai movement, alongside Chen Shui-bian and Lin Cheng-chieh, forming a trio often referred to as the "three musketeers" of the movement. He was a co-founder of the party and played a crucial role, famously proposing the party's current name. Hsieh was also a central member of the team responsible for drafting the party's charter. He served as the DPP's chairman twice, first from 2000 to 2002 and again in an acting capacity in 2008 following the legislative election.

2.2. Early political activities

Hsieh's electoral career began with two terms as a Taipei City Councilor, serving from December 1981 to December 1989. Following this, he was elected to the Legislative Yuan in 1989 and re-elected in 1992, serving as a legislator from February 1990 to February 1996. In 1994, instead of seeking re-election to the Legislative Yuan, he contested the Taipei mayoral election but lost the primary to Chen Shui-bian, who went on to win the general election. In September 1995, Hsieh was chosen as the vice-presidential running mate for Peng Ming-min on the Democratic Progressive Party ticket for the 1996 Republic of China presidential election. The pair finished second, securing 21.1% of the vote.

2.3. Mayoralty of Kaohsiung

In 1997, Frank Hsieh's national profile significantly rose when he successfully negotiated the surrender of a gunman in the Alexander family hostage crisis. The following year, to the surprise of many observers, he won the 1998 Kaohsiung City mayoral election, narrowly defeating the Kuomintang incumbent, Wu Den-yih, by a margin of 4,565 votes (approximately 0.6 percentage points).

During his two terms as Kaohsiung Mayor (1998-2005), Hsieh focused extensively on urban development and environmental improvement. His administration initiated efforts to enhance water quality in surrounding rivers and undertook a general overhaul of the Port of Kaohsiung. He advocated for the port, then largely controlled by the central government, to be placed under the jurisdiction of the Kaohsiung City Government. A major highlight of his tenure was the cleanup of the heavily polluted Love River, a project that began in 1999 and was completed in 2002, significantly improving the city's environment and aesthetics. Hsieh was also instrumental in the establishment of the Kaohsiung Metro system. These achievements garnered strong support from Kaohsiung citizens, with his approval ratings reaching 82.6% in December 2004 according to Kaohsiung City polls, and a satisfaction rate of 74% against 16% dissatisfaction in a survey by the United Daily News. He actively engaged in city and party diplomacy, traveling to countries such as South Korea, the United States, and Senegal to promote Kaohsiung internationally. He was re-elected for a four-year term in the 2002 municipal elections, defeating Kuomintang candidate Huang Jun-ying by 24,838 votes (3.22%), despite public support for Huang from then-People First Party chair James Soong.

2.4. Premiership

In January 2005, Frank Hsieh was appointed Premier of the Republic of China (President of the Executive Yuan), necessitating his resignation from his post as mayor of Kaohsiung. He served as Premier from February 1, 2005, to January 25, 2006. His tenure was marked by efforts to promote "reconciliation and coexistence" and calls for dialogue with the opposition Kuomintang and with mainland China, though these efforts saw limited success. Kuomintang politicians called for his resignation following the Kaohsiung MRT foreign workers scandal. Hsieh ultimately resigned as premier in the aftermath of the Democratic Progressive Party's significant losses in the 2005 "Three-in-One" elections, taking responsibility for the party's poor performance.

In December 2006, Hsieh ran as the DPP candidate for the Taipei Mayoral election, proposing bold initiatives such as hosting the 2020 Taipei Olympics. However, he lost the race to Kuomintang candidate Hau Lung-pin by 166,216 votes (12.92%), an expected outcome given Taipei's status as a Kuomintang stronghold. In February 2007, he led the Taiwanese delegation to the 55th annual United States National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., an event attended by dignitaries including President George W. Bush.

2.5. 2008 Presidential Campaign

Frank Hsieh was widely considered a leading contender for the DPP nomination in the 2008 Republic of China presidential election. He formally announced his intention to run on February 16, 2007, three days after Kuomintang's Ma Ying-jeou declared his candidacy. Hsieh secured 45% of the vote in the Democratic Progressive Party primary, and a scheduled straw poll was canceled after his three primary opponents conceded, making him the DPP nominee. He chose Su Tseng-chang as his vice-presidential running mate. His campaign adopted the slogan "Taiwan Restoration," drawing parallels to the Meiji Restoration in Japan.

In July 2007, Hsieh embarked on a visit to the United States, branding it "the journey of Love and Trust" (「愛與信任」之旅^Chinese). In September 2007, he openly declared his aspiration to run for the presidency of the "State of Taiwan" (台灣國^Chinese), emphasizing the importance of "recognizing ourselves (the Taiwanese people) as a nation first and then fighting for what we want during negotiations with other countries." Regarding Ma Ying-jeou's proposal of a "cross-strait common market," Hsieh argued that focusing solely on economic development could lead Taiwan to a fate similar to Hong Kong and Macau, whose primary goal is economic gain. He stressed that economic improvement must be balanced with preserving national dignity and that the ultimate goal of economic development should be enhancing people's happiness.

During the campaign, Kuomintang's allegations of graft led to a prosecutorial investigation into Hsieh in 2007, which concluded in September with an announcement that he would not be charged with wrongdoing. In January 2008, Hsieh accused Ma Ying-jeou of possessing a U.S. green card, and stated that if Ma could provide documented proof of renunciation, Hsieh would withdraw from the election. The election proved devastating for Hsieh and the DPP, as he lost to Ma Ying-jeou by a wider-than-expected margin of 17%, or over 2.2 million votes. Hsieh had stated that if he lost this election, he would not run for office again, and he subsequently resigned from the DPP chairmanship to take responsibility for the defeat, being succeeded by Tsai Ing-wen. Despite his earlier vow, he stood for and won a position on the DPP's central committee standing membership election in July 2010.

2.6. Representative to Japan

In March 2016, media reports indicated that Frank Hsieh had accepted a position as Taiwan's representative to Japan in President Tsai Ing-wen's administration, an appointment he officially confirmed in late April. He arrived in Tokyo for his first official visit on June 9, 2016. His appointment was favorably viewed by some, suggesting a potential shift in Taiwan's diplomatic focus from cross-strait and Taiwan-United States relations towards a "southward" policy, a key goal of the Tsai presidency. Hsieh, considered a "Japan-savvy veteran," emphasized his affinity for Japan, cultivated during his studies at Kyoto University, and aimed to strengthen Taiwan-Japan relations.

During his tenure, Hsieh discussed the possibility of lifting Taiwanese restrictions on imports from Fukushima Prefecture, which had been imposed following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and the subsequent Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. He also participated in significant diplomatic events; for instance, he attended the Imperial Enthronement ceremony in Japan on October 22, 2019, as a guest, despite Taiwan not receiving a formal invitation. His efforts extended to demonstrating solidarity, such as visiting Kumamoto Prefecture with the Kaohsiung Mayor after the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes to deliver aid, stating his desire to strengthen a sincere relationship where Taiwan and Japan could assist each other in times of need. Hsieh served as the Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan from February 1, 2016, to August 6, 2024, when he was replaced by Lee I-yang.

3.1. Core political ideology

Frank Hsieh's core political ideology emphasizes "reconciliation and coexistence." His experiences, particularly his time studying in Japan where he observed a stark contrast between a democratic society and Taiwan under martial law, deeply influenced his commitment to democracy and social justice. Upon returning to Taiwan, he dedicated himself to providing legal counsel to the underprivileged, leading to his entry into politics during a period of intense political suppression. He is regarded as a "pro-Japan" figure within the Democratic Progressive Party, having co-founded the "DPP Taiwan-Japan Friendship Association" and serving as its first chairman. He often speaks of the positive influence of Japan's education and infrastructure development during its colonial rule on his father's generation, expressing a desire for a mutually beneficial relationship between Taiwan and Japan.

3.2. Views on cross-strait relations

Frank Hsieh has advocated for a more nuanced approach to relations with mainland China. In October 2012, he undertook a five-day visit to mainland China as a private citizen, making him the highest-ranking DPP official to visit at that time. During this trip, he visited Xiamen and the Dongshan Islands in Fujian Province, as well as Beijing, where he met with then-State Councilor Dai Bingguo, then-President Chen Yunlin of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, and then-Director Wang Yi of the Taiwan Affairs Office. While both sides acknowledged the One-China policy, which governs Cross-Strait relations, Hsieh proposed a new consensus, which he termed "Two Sides, Two Constitutions" (憲法各表^Chinese), as an alternative to the 1992 consensus. He reiterated this initiative during an April 2013 visit to the United States, urging Beijing to accept the differing constitutional interpretations across the Taiwan Strait to facilitate dialogue.

In June 2013, Hsieh attended a two-day forum on cross-strait relations in Hong Kong. He emphasized the importance of mutual trust between the DPP and Beijing, stating that all bilateral exchanges should benefit the public and address their needs, and called for rebalancing cross-strait interactions. He reaffirmed his "constitutions with different interpretations" view, asserting that Taipei and Beijing can coexist if both sides respect each other's constitutional legitimacy.

Regarding the Diaoyutai Islands (Senkaku Islands), Hsieh maintains that "Diaoyutai is part of Taiwan," reflecting the Republic of China's official stance. However, he also asserts that "the issue of sovereignty and fishing rights must be separated," suggesting a temporary shelving of sovereignty discussions in favor of pragmatic resolution of fishing rights.

3.3. Advocacy for social issues

Frank Hsieh has consistently demonstrated a commitment to social justice and human rights by advocating for significant social issues. A notable example is his strong support for same-sex marriage. He has actively participated in events like the Tokyo Rainbow Pride in 2023 and 2024, stating his belief that Taiwan's success in legalizing same-sex marriage demonstrates that such progress is achievable in Japan as well. Through his participation, he aimed to raise awareness about Taiwan's embrace of diverse love, diverse marriages, and its commitment to human rights and progress.

5.1. Achievements and positive evaluation

Frank Hsieh is highly regarded for his contributions to Taiwan's democratic development and his pragmatic approach to governance. As a co-founder of the Democratic Progressive Party, he played a pivotal role in establishing Taiwan's multi-party democracy. His tenure as Kaohsiung Mayor is widely celebrated for its significant urban development and environmental initiatives, particularly the cleanup of the Love River and the establishment of the Kaohsiung Metro. These projects notably improved the city's quality of life and infrastructure, earning him high approval ratings from citizens. His active engagement in city and party diplomacy also enhanced Kaohsiung's international profile.

As Premier, his advocacy for "reconciliation and coexistence" reflected a progressive vision for domestic political harmony and cross-strait stability. In his role as Representative to Japan, Hsieh was instrumental in strengthening Taiwan-Japan relations, advocating for the lifting of Fukushima food import restrictions and participating in high-level diplomatic events, showcasing his skill as a "Japan-savvy veteran." His consistent support for social justice issues, including same-sex marriage, further highlights his commitment to human rights and social progress. Even after his presidential defeat, his continued involvement in politics, including his return to the DPP's central committee, underscored his dedication to public service.

5.2. Criticism and controversies

Despite his achievements, Frank Hsieh's career has faced criticism and controversies. He resigned from the premiership following the DPP's significant losses in the 2005 local elections, taking responsibility for the party's performance, which some critics saw as a failure of his leadership during that period.

A notable controversy arose in 2008 when Chen Hsing-yu, daughter of former President Chen Shui-bian, alleged that Hsieh, along with Su Tseng-chang and Chen Chu, had received money from her father amidst his corruption scandal. Hsieh publicly denied these allegations, stating that while he appreciated Chen Shui-bian's assistance in his elections, he had never received money from him. Separately, in 2007, he was subjected to an investigation by prosecutors following graft allegations made by the Kuomintang. However, this investigation concluded in September 2007, with an official announcement that Hsieh would not be charged with any wrongdoing, effectively clearing his name from these specific accusations.

5.3. Election record