Tsai Ing-wen's Path to Becoming the First Female Leader of Taiwan

Creator: Carl Court | Credit: Getty Images

Can you guess which country just elected the first female president in its history? It’s not the United States, France, or even Germany—it’s Taiwan, and that woman is Tsai Ing-wen, who also happens to be one of the country’s most powerful women overall. But how did Tsai Ing-wen become the first female leader of Taiwan? Let’s find out!

10 things to know about former Taiwanese president, Tsai Ing-wen

Born in 1956, Tsai was raised in Tainan city, a southern port area. Her father owned a local business. After her parents divorced when she was eight years old, Tsai lived with her mother and grandmother in Taoyuan City and studied at a junior high school there for one year before moving back to Tainan. She enrolled at Soochow University in Taipei after graduating from senior high school, majoring in international economic law. As an undergraduate student, Tsai read Adolf Hitler’s manifesto Mein Kampf (My Struggle), which had been translated into Chinese by Lo Hsiang-lin and published by his magazine New Horizon in 1957.

Growing up female in a male dominated society

Tsai Ing-wen grew up in a time when women were expected to get married early, drop out of school and support their husbands. Yet despite growing up in such a male dominated society, Tsai saw her mother doing things that were considered rare for a woman to do at that time. She graduated from National Taiwan University with honors and started working as an English teacher at Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Girls High School where she met her future husband who was also working there as a physics teacher. Her then boyfriend later encouraged her to pursue her dream of becoming a lawyer by taking law classes part time during her career as an English teacher.

Government career before entering politics

Tsai was born in Tainan, Taiwan. She has a doctorate in law from Cornell Law School, and she worked for four years at a private firm in New York City and then as an advisor on international affairs to Chen Shui-bian while he was campaigning for president. Upon Chen's election in 2000, Tsai became his foreign minister, making her one of two women to hold that position. In 2005, she stepped down after being indicted by a Taiwanese court on corruption charges (the decision was overturned by higher courts). Tsai resigned from politics altogether until 2012 when she ran for president again—and won.

Photo: AFP

First elected into parliament in 2000

Tsai began her political career in 2000 when she was elected into parliament as a member of what is now known as Tsai’s Democratic Progressive Party. She had served four terms in parliament by 2005, when she became vice premier under Chen Shui-bian, who was president at that time. As vice premier, Tsai oversaw several ministries, including national defense and foreign affairs—she was also named chairwoman of Taipei’s Mainland Affairs Council, which handles relations with China.

In charge of economic affairs and communications

Tsai is in charge of economic affairs and communications. She has been criticized for her lack of experience with foreign affairs, but she says she is determined to learn on the job as quickly as possible. On foreign policy, Tsai is likely to seek closer ties with China. She has said that she will maintain respect for the status quo regarding relations between China and Taiwan -- namely that mainland China still considers Taiwan part of its territory and hasn't ruled out using force against any formal declaration by Taiwan seeking independence. However, Tsai will almost certainly look to strengthen trade ties with countries in Asia and Europe while also ensuring military cooperation between Taipei and Washington stays intact.

Education minister 2007 - 2009

Tsai Ing-wen was appointed as minister of education on May 20, 2007. In June 2010 she became chairwoman of her party, and in September 2010 assumed her new position as premier. Education is one of Tsai’s passions, so it comes as no surprise that at age 33 she became Minister for Education. She holds a bachelor’s degree in law from National Taiwan University (NTU) and master’s degrees in Law and Diplomacy from NTU and Columbia University respectively. Currently she serves as NTU President.

As premier 2010 - 2012

She led high-profile talks with China in 2010, when she became chairwoman of her party. Her role strengthened her public profile and made her a potential presidential candidate for 2012, although it did not immediately increase her political clout within the DPP. She lost a DPP primary in 2011 to Frank Hsieh, a fellow former Taipei mayor. In April 2012 she was elected by party delegates as their presidential candidate in an unprecedented victory over male rivals; she had come second in internal polling. Then President Ma Ying-jeou appointed premier Jiang Yi-huah as his successor after winning re-election (50% vs 40%), but continued to cast himself as an active politician until his term ended on May 20.

Elected president 2016

Tsai Ing-wen, who became president of Taiwan in May 2016, is a powerful woman. She is also currently one of only six female leaders in a country worldwide. This is her story on how she was able to take charge and start a new chapter for Taiwan. I think she will make history once again by becoming the first female leader in Asia. Tsai Ing-wen said that strengthening national security and protecting peace are her government’s priorities.

Creator: SAM YEH | Credit: AFP/Getty Images

Getting married and having children

Tsai is married to fellow politician Alex Tsai and they have two daughters, Hsiao-chang and Feng-ying. The couple first met in 1986 when Tsai was working as a translator for her future husband, who was then a member of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council. They married six years later when he moved to Taiwan. Since getting married in 1992, Tsai has not let her home life interfere with her political career. She continues to frequently travel back and forth between Taipei and Washington DC, where her husband teaches at George Washington University.

Road map for Taiwan's future development

As president, Tsai will make making sure Taiwan remains an open and progressive society her top priority. To continue fostering a creative environment in which ideas can flow freely, she has promised to cut unnecessary red tape that impedes business creation and economic development. Tsai has also pledged not to implement any new policies until they have been clearly defined. She wants her administration's first year in office to be one of listening, learning and defining. This is good news for Taipei residents who don't want their city center blocked off by police for yet another political protest.

Lessons learned from her father

Tsai Ing-wen lived in China and later moved back to Taiwan as a young girl. Her father was a staunch supporter of independence for Taiwan, which at that time was still under authoritarian rule. Because her family took part in political protests, they were forced into exile in the U.S., where Tsai received her bachelor’s degree at Cornell University and master’s degree at the London School of Economics. She returned to Taiwan just as it reached democracy, and went on to study law before becoming a member of parliament. She also worked for many years as an academic before launching her first bid for president.