Lin Cho-shui

Lin earned a bachelor's degree at National Chengchi University.[1]

Lin was an original member of the New Tide faction, a group within the Democratic Progressive Party formed by tangwai movement activists to oppose DPP politician Kang Ning-hsiang and later supportive of Chen Shui-bian.[2][3] Lin helped write the party's founding charter.[4] In 1998, it was suggested that the party platform be revised.[5] Lin and Julian Kuo drafted an amendment delineating the DPP's acceptance of the Republic of China as the official name for Taiwan.[6] By January 1999, it was decided that changes to the party platform would not be made.[4]

Lin was elected to the Legislative Yuan three times as a representative of Taipei 1.[7][8][9] For a portion of his first term, Lin was the Democratic Progressive Party caucus whip.[10] In 1999, the Ministry of the Interior proposed a law on referendums. Lin opposed the bill, because the MOI draft did not make Taiwanese sovereignty an issue eligible for referendum.[11] He won the 2001 and 2004 legislative elections via party-list proportional representation.[12][13] In July 2003, President Chen Shui-bian recommended that the Lungmen Nuclear Power Plant and Taiwan's membership in the World Trade Organization both be considered for referendum, a move Lin supported.[14] When the Referendum Act was promulgated in December 2003, a referendum on cross-strait relations did indeed occur in March 2004. A "sunshine code" provision, which mandated the use of blind trusts for all members of the Executive Yuan and every overseas diplomat, passed in February 2006 with support from Lin.[15] In June 2006, the Statute Governing Preferential Treatment for Retired Presidents and Vice Presidents was revised, lowering pensions for former leaders of Taiwan. Lin stated that the amendments were not adequate.[16] Also that month, Lin asked Chiou I-jen to step down as claims of corruption within the Chen administration began.[17] Lin had pledged to resign if Chen were detained,[18] and gave up his seat on 13 November 2006,[19] officially leaving the legislature on 15 November.[20] Lin declared his candidacy for the legislative elections of 2008, and quit the race after winning only 11.01% of the vote in a party primary.[21]

Lin supports the Taiwan independence movement and believes that Cross-Strait relations are of an international nature.[22][23][24] He often writes for the Taipei Times. Editorials authored for the publication have criticized increasing government bureaucracy,[25] and the policies and actions of Ma Ying-jeou.[26][27][28] Lin has written on party politics within the Democratic Progressive Party,[29] and believes vice chairman positions within political parties contribute to bureaucracy.[30] Lin has also expressed disapproval of the DPP,[31][32] specifically targeting politicians Annette Lu and Yen Ching-chang.[33][34] He supports pension reform,[35] and expanding the investigative powers of the legislature and Control Yuan.[36]

Lin has covered the 1992 Consensus repeatedly,[37][38][39] as well as Cross-Strait relations,[40][41][42][43] and China itself in his writings.[44] Lin's contributions to the Times further include political survey analysis and opinions on the use and meaning of national symbols.[45][46][47]