Huang Kuo-chang explained

Huang Kuo-chang should not be confused with Huang Kuo-chung.

Huang Kuo-chang (born 1973 8, df=yes) is a Taiwanese politician, activist, legal scholar, researcher and writer. He is one of the lead figures of the Sunflower Student Movement and joined the New Power Party shortly afterwards. He served as leader of the party from 2015 to 2019, and represented New Taipei City of Xizhi District in the Legislative Yuan on behalf of the NPP between 2016 and 2020. In 2023, he joined the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), and in the 2024 election he was elected to the Legislative Yuan on the TPP party list.

Early life

Huang Kuo-chang was born into a traditional farming family in Xizhi Township, Taipei County. He graduated from National Taiwan University in 1995, and he continued his education at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York for a master's degree and a doctorate.^[1]

Political career

One of the lead figures of the Sunflower Student Movement, Huang joined the New Power Party in May 2015,^[2] and was named acting chairperson in July.^{[3] [4]} That same month, Huang announced that he would enter the legislative election in 2016 as a New Power Party candidate for the 12th constituency of New Taipei City. The constituency, which includes Xizhi, Ruifang, Jinshan, Wanli, Pingxi, Shuangxi and Gongliao, was represented by incumbent Kuomintang (KMT) legislator Lee Ching-hua.^[5] In September, the NPP announced that Huang would serve on a seven-member committee of party leaders, which included Freddy Lim and Neil Peng.^[6] As the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) did not fill in candidates in the constituency, in order to support Huang. In the elections held on 16 January 2016, Huang beat the incumbent Lee and won the seat in the legislature.^[7] After taking office, Huang was assigned to the Finance Committee.^[8]

Court proceedings against 21 protesters began in June 2016. First to be charged with various offenses included Chen Wei-ting, Huang Kuo-chang, and Lin Fei-fan.^[9] In a March 2017 Taipei District Court decision, Chen, Huang and Lin were acquitted of incitement charges.^[10]

On 16 December 2017, a recall election was over his support for same-sex marriage.^[11] Votes in favor of the recall outnumbered those against, but fell short of the required threshold, one-fourth of the district's total electorate.^[12] Huang stepped down as chairman of the New Power Party in January 2019.^{[13] [14]} In June 2019, Huang stated that he would leave the New Power Party if it became a "sidekick" of the Democratic Progressive Party,^[15] but he denied that he was forming a new political party.^[16] Huang stated in August 2019 that he would support the 2020 legislative campaign of Lai Chia-lun, who sought to succeed Huang as the legislator representing New Taipei 12.^[17] Huang was offered a position on the New Power proportional representation party list.^[18] Though the party backed his return to the Legislative Yuan,^[19] it later explored drafting Huang to contest the 2020 Taiwan presidential election.^{[20] [21]} Huang refused to stand in the election,^[22] and the New Power Party later announced that it would not nominate a presidential candidate.^[23] Huang was ranked fourth on the New Power Party list of at-large legislative candidates.^[24] The NPP won over seven percent of the party list vote, allowing only three at-large legislative candidates to take office.^[25]

On 16 November 2023, Huang announced that he had filed paperwork to join the Taiwan People's Party (TPP).^[26] Huang won election to the Legislative Yuan on the TPP's proportional representation party list in the 2024 legislative election.^[27] He was subsequently named the TPP caucus convener for the 11th Legislative Yuan.^[28]

Controversy

See main article: 2024 Taiwanese legislative reform protests.

In May 2024, TPP joined with KMT to propose controversial provisions that were touted as parliamentary reform, allegedly ramming through the bill without proper legislative review and procedures.^{[29] [30]} After he supported the bill,^[31] he is widely seen as a political turncoat against the spirit of Sunflower Student Movement in which he participated. The bill with its vague definitions,^{[32] [33]} and fines & imprisonments liability without right to legal counsel free from legislative speaker's permission^[32] on purported contempt of legislature, was widely seen as a power grab for KMT and TPP.^{[34] [30]} In spite of public pleas, including calls for due process,^[35] the bill was passed on 28 May 2024.^[36] On 30 May 2024, North America Taiwanese Professors Association denounced Huang for allegedly undermining Taiwan's democracy and rescinded his Professor Liao ST Memorial Award.^{[37] [38] [39]}

Publications

• Journal Articles
  • Kuo-Chang Huang, Kong-Pin Chen, Chang-Ching Lin, 2015, "Party Capability versus Court Preference: Why do the "Haves" Come Out Ahead?－An Empirical Lesson from the Taiwan Supreme Court", Journal of Law Economics & Organization, 31(1), 93–126. (SSCI) (IF: 1.036; SSCI ranking: 37.7%,30.5%)
  • Kuo-Chang Huang, Chang-Ching Lin, & Kong-Pin Chen, 2014, "Do Rich and Poor Behave Similarly in Seeking Legal Advice? Lessons from Taiwan in Comparative Perspective", Law & Society Review, 48(1), 193–223. (SSCI) (IF: 1.31; SSCI ranking: 22.1%,21.2%)
  • Kuo-Chang Huang & Chang-Ching Lin, 2014, "Mock Jury Trials in Taiwan—Paving theGround for Introducing Lay Participation", Law and Human Behavior, 38(4), 367–377. (SSCI) (IF: 2.153; SSCI ranking: 7.6%,16.7%)
• Book Chapters
  • Kuo-Chang Huang, accepted, "The Effect of Stakes on Settlement—An Empirical Lesson from Taiwan", editor(s): Theodore Eisenberg, Giovanni Battista Ramello EDS, Research Handbooks in Comparative Law and Economics, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing.
  • Kuo-Chang Huang, accepted, "Using Associations as a Vehicle for Class Action—The Case of Taiwan", editor(s): Deborah Hensler, Christ Hodge EDS, Class Action in Context, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing
• Conference Papers
  • Kuo-Chang Huang, 2014, "The Impacts of Judicial Reform in Taiwan", paper presented at 4th Brazilian Jurimetrics Conference, Brazil: Brazilian Jurimetrics Association, 2014-05-12 ~ 2014-05-16.^[40]

Notes and References

1. http://www.iias.sinica.edu.tw/en/content/researcher/contents/2013110517175075138/?MSID=2013111717171383577 Academia Sinica
2. News: Sunflower Movement leader Huang Kuo-chang could join legislative race. 13 September 2015. Formosa News. 4 May 2015.
3. News: Loa. Lok-sin. NPP reveals 'two-state' China policy. 10 December 2015. Taipei Times. 9 July 2015.
4. News: 林昶佐請辭時代力量總隊長 黃國昌代理拚選戰. 13 September 2015. People News. 2 July 2015. zh.
5. News: Loa. Lok-sin. Huang Kuo-chang announces run for legislature. 13 September 2015. Taipei Times. 28 July 2015.
6. News: Chen. Wei-han. New Power Party announces leadership structure. 14 September 2015. Taipei Times. 14 September 2015.
7. News: NPP's Huang beats KMT in New Taipei's 12th district. 17 January 2016. China Post. 17 January 2016.
8. News: Gerber. Abraham. Rules on committee members selection irk NPP lawmakers. 23 February 2016. Taipei Times. 23 February 2016.
9. News: Pan. Jason. Sunflower leaders to face justice system 'head-on'. 15 June 2016. Taipei Times. 15 June 2016.
10. News: Hou. Elaine. Wang. Yang-yu. Liu. Shih-yi. Sunflower movement leaders acquitted over legislature occupation. 31 March 2017. Central News Agency. 31 March 2017.
11. Web site: Taiwan Sunflower Movement leader survives recall vote over same-sex marriage. Taiwan News. 16 December 2017 . 16 December 2017.
12. News: Lin. Sean. Vote to recall NPP chairman fails. 17 December 2017. Taipei Times. 17 December 2017.
13. News: Su . Lung-chi . Chen . Chu-hua . Wang . Flor . Huang Kuo-chang quits as NPP chairman . 21 January 2019 . Central News Agency.
14. News: Maxon . Ann . Huang not to seek re-election as NPP chairman . 22 January 2019 . Taipei Times . 22 January 2019.
15. News: Peng . Wan-hsin . Hetherington . William . Ex-NPP chair says party not DPP sidekick . 11 June 2019 . 9 June 2019.
16. News: Maxon . Ann . NPP's Huang denies he is establishing a new party . 11 June 2019 . Taipei Times . 11 June 2019.
17. News: Maxon . Ann . Huang backs his office director for legislative run . 21 August 2019 . Taipei Times . 15 August 2019.
18. News: Ann . Maxon . Not interested in returning to be NPP chair: Chiu . 21 August 2019 . Taipei Times . 21 August 2019.
19. News: Maxon . Ann . Legislature the goal for Huang Kuo-chang: NPP chair . 20 September 2019 . Taipei Times . 29 August 2019.
20. News: Liao . George . NPP to nominate candidate for Taiwan presidency . 19 September 2019 . Taiwan News . 18 September 2019.
21. News: Maxon . Ann . NPP eyes Huang Kuo-chang as presidential pick . 19 September 2019 . Taipei Times . 12 September 2019.
22. News: Maxon . Ann . NPP's Huang says not interested in the presidency . 20 September 2019 . Taipei Times . 20 September 2019.
23. News: Maxon . Ann . NPP to refrain from selecting candidate for presidential poll . 25 September 2019 . Taipei Times . 25 September 2019.
24. News: Maxon . Ann . Huang Kuo-chang deflects prediction of no at-large seat . 6 December 2019 . Taipei Times . 6 December 2019.
25. News: Lee . I-chia . 2020 Elections: Taiwan People's Party tops among 'third force' parties . 12 January 2020 . Taipei Times . 12 January 2020.
26. News: 16 November 2023 . Election 2024/NPP co-founder, former lawmaker to join TPP . Focus Taiwan . 17 November 2023.
27. News: 15 January 2024 . TPP caucus calls on speakership hopefuls to push for reforms . Focus Taiwan: CNA English News . 20 January 2024.
28. News: Lin . Sean . Wang . Cheng-chung . Election 2024/TPP nominates former Taipei deputy mayor as speaker candidate . 31 January 2024 . Central News Agency.
29. News: Hsiao . Alison . Legislature in chaos over legislative reform bills . 17 May 2024 . 31 May 2024 . . . ...KMT and the TPP had voted last month in committee, where bills are usually reviewed and discussed, to take their versions of the bills directly to a floor vote without clause-by-clause deliberation, and left the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) proposed bills in the committee... . https://web.archive.org/web/20240517153318/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202405170022 . 17 May 2024 . live.
30. News: Chau . Thompson . Taiwan's Lai faces early pressure from opposition legislative power play . 20 May 2024 . 31 May 2024 . . . ...with the China-leaning opposition attempting to ram through a set of bills that lawyers and critics consider a power grab... . https://web.archive.org/web/20240520083709/https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Taiwan-s-Lai-faces-early-pressure-from-opposition-legislative-power-play . 20 May 2024 . live.
31. News: Hsiao . Alison . Liu . Kuan-ting . Third reading of major part of 'legislative reform' bills passed . 28 May 2024 . 29 May 2024 . . . 'Today is a very important day...as legislative reforms...are expected to pass their third reading,' TPP Legislator Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) said at a press conference before entering the chamber. . https://web.archive.org/web/20240528142150/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202405280017 . 28 May 2024 . live.
32. News: Chung . Jake . Foundation urges halt to proposed amendments . 26 May 2024 . 28 May 2024 . . . Judicial Reform Foundation yesterday urged...halt the Legislative Yuan proceedings immediately on the grounds that...could be illegal and unconstitutional...Amendments regarding powers of inquiry were too vague, failing to provide legal bases for procedures summoning individuals to give testimony, it said, adding that the amendments regarding an individual refusing to testify were also vague. Amendments that said individuals attending a testimony hearing could ask for, per agreement of the Legislative Speaker, legal counsel or professional aid was procedurally flawed and infringed on a person’s right to legal representation... . https://web.archive.org/web/20240525165241/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2024/05/26/2003818420 . 25 May 2024 . live.
33. News: Hsiao . Alison . Several legislative reform amendments pass 2nd reading . 21 May 2024 . 31 May 2024 . . . The amendment aims to place tighter restrictions on those questioned in the Legislature, stating that they cannot "reverse-question," without defining the term. . https://web.archive.org/web/20240521210708/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202405210026 . 21 May 2024 . live.
34. News: Hioe . Brian . Tens of Thousands Protest Bill to Expand Legislative Power in Taiwan . 22 May 2024 . 28 May 2024 . The Diplomat. A move by the KMT and its ally, the TPP, to quickly pass the controversial bill...Moreover, they would not be allowed to "reverse-question," an unclearly defined term that probably refers to some manner of speaking back against questioning, which would be punished by a fine of 200,000 Taiwanese dollars...For critics, this is another power grab by the KMT in a manner reminiscent of its authoritarian past...Huang, a professor of law by training, had been one of the leaders of the Sunflower Movement. But to many, Huang is now seen as a political turncoat after aligning himself with the TPP...The TPP voted together with the KMT for the new amendments. https://web.archive.org/web/20240521210748/https://thediplomat.com/2024/05/tens-of-thousands-protest-bill-to-expand-legislative-power-in-taiwan/ . 21 May 2024 . live.
35. News: Lin . Sean . Protesters call for transparency regarding 'legislative reform bills' . 21 May 2024 . 28 May 2024 . . . The demonstrators, including some affiliated with about 20 civic groups, decried perceived "procedural issues" and called for the bills...to undergo a committee review in line with due process. . https://web.archive.org/web/20240521104904/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202405210017 . 21 May 2024 . live.
36. News: KMT, TPP pass controversial measures . 29 May 2024 . 29 May 2024 . . ...Legislative Yuan yesterday passed bills...They also criminalize contempt of the legislature by government officials, and made changes to the Criminal Code that would impose a fine of up to NT$200,000 and jail time of up to one year for public officials who lie during a legislative hearing... . https://web.archive.org/web/20240529025121/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2024/05/29/2003818549 . 29 May 2024 . live.
37. News: NATPA譴責黃國昌破壞台灣民主 撤銷廖述宗教授紀念獎 . NATPA denounced Huang Kuo-Chang for undermining Taiwan's democracy, revoked Professor Liao Shu Tsung Memorial Award. 31 May 2024 . 31 May 2024 . . zh-TW.
38. News: 譴責黃國昌破壞台灣民主 NATPA撤銷「廖述宗教授紀念獎」(with image of NATPA english press statement Rescinding Huang Kuo-Chang the 2015 NATPA Professor Liao ST Memorial Award) . Denouncing Huang Kuo-Chang for undermining Taiwan's democracy, NATPA revoked Professor Liao Shu Tsung Memorial Award . 31 May 2024 . 31 May 2024 . . zh-TW, en-US . https://web.archive.org/web/20240531163546/https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/4690629 . 31 May 2024 . live.
39. Web site: Rescinding Huang Kuo-Chang the 2015 NATPA Professor Liao ST Memorial Award) . 30 May 2024 . 31 May 2024 . North America Taiwanese Professors Association . . en-US . ...in 2014...attempted to unilaterally force the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement to a vote without following agreed-upon democratic procedures. The Sunflower Movement was born, and Huang Kuo-Chang was one of the leaders of that movement...Now, in 2024, Huang Kuo-Chang is now acting in a manner completely opposite to what he did a decade ago–not only is he advocating legislation which could severely undermine Taiwan’s democracy, but also he is doing so in a way that completely disrespects the democratic processes NATPA holds dear. . https://web.archive.org/web/20240531163603/https://img.ltn.com.tw/Upload/news/600/2024/05/31/phpu2YbO0.png . 31 May 2024 . live.
40. Web site: Academia Sinica Research Professors - Institutum Iurisprudentiae . Academia Sinica . https://web.archive.org/web/20140529141747/https://www.iias.sinica.edu.tw/en/content/researcher/contents/2013110517175075138/?MSID=2013111717171383577 . May 29, 2014 . dead.