ive Yuan) Hsin-yi LIN
(since 1 February 2002) cabinet: Executive Yuan appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Yuan (225 seats - 168
elected by popular vote, 41 elected on the basis of the proportion
of islandwide votes received by participating political parties,
eight elected from overseas Chinese constituencies on the basis of
the proportion of islandwide votes received by participating political
parties, eight elected by popular vote among the aboriginal populations;
members serve three-year terms) and unicameral National Assembly (300
seat nonstanding body; delegates nominated by parties and elected by
proportional representation within three months of a Legislative Yuan
call to amend the Constitution, impeach the president, or change national
borders) elections: Legislative Yuan - last held 8 December 2001 (next to
be held NA December 2004); note - the National Assembly is a nonstanding
body and is called into session election results: Legislative Yuan -
percent of vote by party - DPP 39%, KMT 30%, PFP 20%, TSU 6%, independents
and other parties 5%; seats by party - DPP 87, KMT 68, PFP 46, TSU 13,
independents and other parties 11

Judicial branch: Judicial Yuan (justices appointed by the president
with consent of the National Assembly; note - beginning in 2003, justices
will be appointed by the president with consent of the Legislative Yuan)

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Progressive Party or DPP
[Frank Chang-ting HSIEH, chairman]; Kuomintang or KMT (Nationalist Party)
[LIEN Chan, chairman]; People First Party or PFP [James Chu-yu SOONG,
chairman]; Taiwan Solidarity Union or TSU [Chu-wen HUANG, chairman];
other minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders: Taiwan independence movement,
various business and environmental groups note: debate on Taiwan
independence has become acceptable within the mainstream of domestic
politics on Taiwan; political liberalization and the increased
representation of opposition parties in Taiwan's legislature have opened
public debate on the island's national identity; a broad popular consensus
has developed that Taiwan currently enjoys de facto independence and -
whatever the ultimate outcome regarding reunification or independence -
that Taiwan's people must have the deciding voice; advocates of Taiwan
independence oppose the stand that the island will eventually unify
with mainland China; goals of the Taiwan independence mov