(2012-0973-F) Tung-hui Lee

The materials in FOIA 2012-973-F are a selective body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related materials. This FOIA contains materials regarding Lee Tung-hui, the President of the Republic of China (ROC), commonly known as Taiwan, from 1988 to 2000. Lee was born in Taiwan under Japanese rule in 1923. After the Second World War, he joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) and obtained a degree from National Taiwan University. He then went on to study agricultural economics at Iowa State University and obtained a Master’s degree in 1953. Lee earned a doctorate in the same field from Cornell University in 1968. After returning to Taiwan in 1971, Lee left the CPC and joined the Kuomintang (KMT), a political party that asserts that the ROC government on Taiwan is the “true” China. Lee first served as Mayor of Taipei and then became the Vice President under President Chiang Ching-kuo. He then suceeded President Chiang when the latter died in office in 1988. During his administration, Lee seemed to favor a movement for the independence of Taiwan from mainland China and pushed for democratic institutions on the island. In 1996, Lee became the first democratically elected president of the ROC on Taiwan. This election, combined with the United State’s decision to Clinton Presidential Library’s web site 2012-0973-F http://www.clintonlibrary.gov 2 grant Lee a visit in May 1995, caused an increase of tensions in the Taiwan Straits. During this period, the People’s Republic of China conducted numerous missile tests around the island of Taiwan and SinoAmerican relations cooled for a time. According to consitutional term limits, Lee Tung-hui left the ROC presidency in May 2000. The researcher should note that Lee’s name may also be spelled “Li Denghui.” Many of the records related to this FOIA are closed for national security reasons. The National Security Council cables release are primarily press clippings which mention Lee Tung-hui, his reelection, or his June 1995 visit to the United States. Many of these articles explore the impact of these topics on the relationship between the United States and PRC.