In Taiwan, there is a proverb that goes, “The first stupid person grows sugarcane for the cooperative, the second stupid person smokes and drinks, and the third stupid person engages in election campaigns.” This third kind of “stupidity” refers to participating in election activities. However, since the lifting of martial law in Taiwan by Chiang Ching-kuo in 1987, numerous Taiwanese people have been actively involved in elections. Some Taiwanese who have lived in the United States for many years even return to Taiwan to run for public office. On August 17, the Taiwan Center in Los Angeles invited three elderly individuals, Yang Jiayou, Jiang Zhaoyi, and Hong Maoze, to share their experiences as the first generation of overseas Taiwanese Americans involved in politics.
In the 1980s, the “Southern California Group” in the United States was at the forefront of promoting the democratic movement in Taiwan. Key members included Xu Xinliang, Xie Qingshi, Xu Piliang, Zhong Jinjiang, Chen Zhaonan, Yang Jiayou, and Jiang Zhaoyi. While their political views may differ, their dedication and concern for Taiwan remained unwavering. Despite being mocked as “stupid,” their passion for Taiwan never wavered.
Yang Jiayou, the founding president of the “Taiwanese American Historical Association,” had a family background deeply rooted in Taiwan’s national movement. Influenced by his ancestors, even after settling in the United States for many years, he continued to care about Taiwan’s social development. In 1989, he returned to Taiwan to run for the position of Taichung County Magistrate. Although he knew his chances of winning were slim against the long-standing Kuomintang candidate, he willingly played the role of a sacrificial lamb to pave the way for the Democratic Progressive Party in central Taiwan. Despite facing a complex network of organizations and government agencies, Yang Jiayou narrowly lost the election. In 1992, he ran for the second National Assembly representative election in the fourth district of Taichung County and was elected with the highest number of votes, later becoming the chair of the National Assembly.
By 1996, Yang Jiayou believed that Taiwan’s socio-economic development was progressing steadily and that his mission had been accomplished, so he returned to the United States to settle down. Witnessing Taiwan’s transition from a single-party dominant system to a democratic one with peaceful power transitions three times after the lifting of martial law, Yang Jiayou remained confident in Taiwan’s future. He emphasized that those who truly love Taiwan and pursue democratic freedom would never oppress those who aspire for the same values. He urged the Taiwanese people not to become disarrayed in uncertain situations.
Facing the Chinese Communist Party’s tactics of propaganda and intimidation, Yang Jiayou remained optimistic. He believed that with the lessons learned from Hong Kong, Taiwanese voters would not be swayed by pro-CCP political influences.
Jiang Zhaoyi, who came from a farming family in Changhua County, started selling popsicles on the streets during elementary school to support his family. He worked odd jobs during summers and winters in college to pay for his education and lived a frugal life as a struggling student abroad. After becoming a certified public accountant in the United States, Jiang Zhaoyi actively participated in overseas democratic organizations to promote democratic politics in Taiwan. In 1995, Jiang Zhaoyi was removed from the overseas blacklist and resigned from his accounting firm in the United States to return to Taiwan for various roles, including serving as the director of the DPP National Budget Center in the Legislative Yuan. In 2001, Jiang Zhaoyi ran for his first legislative election and won, ultimately gaining a reputation as an exemplary legislator in financial matters.
During his period of political service in Taiwan from 1995 to 2012, Jiang Zhaoyi was deeply struck by his experience of facing protests by monks and nuns at his constituent service office after proposing the “Religious Groups Act” in the Legislative Yuan. He believed that religious finances should be transparent to prevent tax evasion and money laundering, but he encountered tremendous resistance. The issue of how religious groups should declare their assets remains a challenging problem in Taiwan.
Jiang Zhaoyi also exposed attempts by the Chinese Communist Party to influence Taiwan’s elections through religious groups. In October 2002 and April 2003, the Chinese Ambassador to the United States, Yang Jiechi, and the Director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, Wang Mingjian, visited a temple in the United States. In October 2003, Jiang Zhaoyi held a press conference, revealing that Taiwanese businessmen and American friends had information indicating that the CCP hoped to use religious groups in Taiwan to assist the KMT candidates in their election campaigns. Although the request was politely declined, Jiang Zhaoyi warned the Taiwanese people to be vigilant against the CCP’s keen interest and attempts to intervene in Taiwan’s election affairs.
After 28 years in the United States, Jiang Zhaoyi returned home to Taiwan, dedicated to serving the local farmers. He emphasized the importance of local governance and expressed his desire to improve his hometown despite the ups and downs of life. Jiang Zhaoyi believed that Taiwan had changed with time and become peaceful and prosperous, free from the authoritarian rule of the past, thanks to the efforts of countless predecessors. He highlighted that democracy is not a gift from above but something that requires collective guardianship.
Born in Xihu Town, Changhua County, Hong Maoze emigrated to Los Angeles in 1982 and became the president of the Taiwanese Association of America in 1993, making him one of the only three presidents of the organization since its inception in 1970.
Reflecting on the budding democratic and political ideas among overseas Taiwanese in the 1980s, Hong Maoze recounted how Taiwan’s community in the United States organized numerous activities to engage with mainstream politicians, including lobbying for the “Taiwan Immigration Act,” breakfast meetings at the Washington D.C. Congress, and fundraising events for thousands of people in Los Angeles with President John F. Kennedy. These efforts enabled Taiwanese Americans to advocate for Taiwan internationally and secure just treatment for Taiwan.
After the severance of diplomatic ties between Taiwan and the United States and the establishment of relations between China and the United States, the 20,000 immigrant quotas originally allocated to Taiwan were transferred to China. Taiwanese-born individuals were to be allocated to China instead of Taiwan. However, due to the persistent efforts of various Taiwanese community representatives, the United States included an additional 20,000 slots for immigrants born in Taiwan in the new immigration legislation that took effect on January 1, 1982.
Hong Maoze stressed that Taiwanese Americans have made significant contributions to the United States. Through the joint committee meetings of the House and Senate Foreign Affairs Committees in 1994, Taiwanese Americans successfully advocated for the replacement of “China” on their passports with “Taiwan” as the place of birth, a testament to their long-standing advocacy efforts. He emphasized the relationship between politics, elections, and each individual, urging people not to ignore the importance of voting and political participation.
In 1996, Hong Maoze returned to Taiwan to participate in Taiwan’s first presidential and National Assembly elections, winning as the representative for Kaohsiung County with the highest number of votes. He believed that with the passage of time, more and more young people would join in the political process, emphasizing the importance of staying informed and engaged to avoid being misled by false information. He expressed optimism for Taiwan’s democratic progress because, at the end of the day, the Taiwanese people are increasingly aware of the need to keep their distance from the Chinese Communist Party.