Summer Chen's Column: Does Taiwan Have an 'Era' After Lee Teng-hui?

This year marks the 30th anniversary of direct presidential elections. Researcher Lin Hsiao-ting from Stanford University's Hoover Institution published 'The Lee Teng-hui Era in Taiwan,' the third in a series following works on Chiang Kai-shek and Chiang Ching-kuo. The analysis compares the era of Lee Teng-hui with subsequent periods, exploring how successors handled the space and issues left by Lee Teng-hui. The Lee Teng-hui era was achieved under unique historical conditions, including the end of the Cold War, Taiwan's democratization, and China's rise. Subsequent periods failed to carry on Lee Teng-hui's legacy, leading to stagnation in efforts towards democratization and establishing an international position.