First Full National Assembly Elections Mark Democratic Milestone

Taiwan achieved a major democratic milestone on December 21, 1991, with the first full elections for the National Assembly, effectively ending the fiction of representing all of China and establishing genuine representative democracy on the island.

Historic Transition

The elections replaced the “eternal” legislators who had been elected on the mainland in 1947 and claimed to represent constituencies now under Communist control. This transition:

Ended 44 years of political fiction
Established legitimacy based on Taiwan’s actual population
Marked a decisive break from authoritarian governance

Electoral Results

The Kuomintang (KMT) maintained its dominance but faced real competition:

KMT: 71% of seats (254 out of 325)
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP): 24% of seats
Other parties and independents: 5% of seats

While the KMT retained control, the emergence of a legitimate opposition marked a fundamental shift from one-party rule.

Campaign Dynamics

The campaign demonstrated Taiwan’s evolving democratic culture:

Open Political Debate

Cross-strait relations openly discussed
Constitutional reform proposals debated
Media coverage relatively free

Identity Politics Emerge

Taiwan independence vs. unification debate surfaces
Ethnic tensions between mainlanders and native Taiwanese addressed
Generational divides become apparent

Beijing’s Hostile Reaction

The PRC strongly condemned the elections:

Declared them “illegal” and “invalid”
Claimed they violated the “one China” principle
Warned against any moves toward independence

Beijing’s authoritarian leadership viewed Taiwan’s democratization as a threat to their legitimacy and a potential inspiration for mainland dissidents.

International Observations

International observers praised the electoral process:

Generally free and fair proceedings
High voter turnout (over 70%)
Peaceful transfer of legislative power

This contrasted sharply with the suppression of democracy movements in mainland China, particularly after Tiananmen Square in 1989.

Constitutional Reform Agenda

The new National Assembly faced critical tasks:

Presidential Election Method - Deciding between direct and indirect election
Provincial Government Status - Addressing Taiwan Province government redundancy
Cross-Strait Relations Framework - Defining legal relationship with mainland

Democratization vs. Stability

The elections highlighted tensions between:

Democratic Progress: Expanding political participation and representation
Cross-Strait Stability: Avoiding actions that might provoke Beijing
Economic Interests: Maintaining prosperity amid political change

Long-term Implications

These elections set important precedents:

Established competitive multi-party democracy
Created mechanisms for peaceful political change
Strengthened Taiwan’s separate political identity
Widened the political gap with authoritarian China

The successful National Assembly elections demonstrated that Chinese society could embrace and implement democratic governance, directly challenging Beijing’s claims that democracy was unsuitable for Chinese culture and providing a powerful counter-narrative to CCP authoritarian rule.