Li Ao at Fayuansi, 2005

Li Ao (李敖 pinyin Lǐ Áo) (born April 25, 1935), is a writer, social commentator, historian, and politician in the Republic of China. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1920x2560, 1930 KB) Summary LiAo at fayuansi/李敖2005年访问北京法源寺 Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Li Ao Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1920x2560, 1930 KB) Summary LiAo at fayuansi/李敖2005年访问北京法源寺 Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Li Ao Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ), commonly called Pinyin, is the most common variant of Standard Mandarin romanization system in use. ... April 25 is the 115th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (116th in leap years). ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar). ... An historian is someone who writes history, a written accounting of the past. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A politician is an individual who is a formally recognized and active member of a government, or a person who influences the way a society is governed through an understanding of political power and group dynamics. ... Motto Three Principles of the People (三民主義 San-min Chu-i) Anthem National Anthem of the Republic of China Capital Taipei (de facto)  Nanking (de jure)1  Largest city Taipei Official languages Mandarin (GuóyÇ”) Government Semi-presidential system  -  President Chen Shui-bian  -  Vice President Annette Lu  -  Premier Chang Chun-hsiung...

He is considered by many to be one of the most important modern Chinese essayists today, although critics have termed him an intellectual narcissist. His political inclinations are more controversial; he is a very vocal critic of both the Kuomintang and the Democratic Progressive Party and their many politicians, including Chiang Kai-shek, Ma Ying-jeou and Chen Shui-bian. Although he favors unification, Li refuses to call himself Pan-Blue due to its association with the KMT. He firmly believes in Chinese nationalism and, in Taiwan, is given much media exposure thanks to his popularity as a writer. An essayist is an author who writes compositions which can be about any particular subject. ... Narcissism is the pattern of traits and behaviors which involve infatuation and obsession with ones self to the exclusion of others and the egotistic and ruthless pursuit of ones gratification, dominance and ambition. ... The Kuomintang of China (abbreviation KMT) (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Tongyong Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Chung1-kuo2 Kuo2-min2-tang3)[1], also often translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party, is a political party in the Republic of China, now on Taiwan, and is currently the largest political party in... The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; abbreviated to or ; Hanyu Pinyin: Mínjìndǎng) is a major political party in the Republic of China which has traditionally been associated with the pan-green coalition and Taiwan independence although it has moderated its stance as it has... Chiang Kai-shek (Chinese: 蔣介石 or 蔣中正, October 31, 1887 – April 5, 1975) was a Chinese military and political leader who assumed the leadership of the Kuomintang (KMT) after the 1925 death of Sun Yat-sen. ... Ma Ying-Jeou (Traditional Chinese: 馬英九; Hanyu Pinyin: Mǎ Yīngjiǔ; Tongyong Pinyin: Ma Yingjiou; Wade-Giles: Ma Ying-chiu) (born July 13, 1950) is a politician in the Republic of China (Taiwan) and a former mayor of Taipei City; he is also the former chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT) . Ma... Chen Shui-bian, President of the Republic of China Chen Shui-bian (ch. ... The May Fourth Movement in 1919 marked a turning point in the history of Chinese nationalism. ...

Background.

Li was born in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province to Li Dingyi (李鼎彝), a professor of Chinese, and Zhang Kuichen (張桂貞). His family has ancestry in Wei County (濰縣), Shandong Province, and Fuyu County (扶餘縣), Jilin Province. The entire Li family, except for two children, moved to Taiwan at the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949. Harbin on a map of China For other meanings of Harbin, see Harbin (disambiguation). ... Heilongjiang (Simplified Chinese: 黑龙江省; Traditional Chinese: 黑龍江省; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Postal System Pinyin: Heilungkiang) is a province of the Peoples Republic of China located in the northeastern part of the country. ... Weifang (Simplified Chinese: 潍坊; Pinyin: ) is a prefecture-level city in central Shandong province, Peoples Republic of China. ...   (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Shan-tung) is a coastal province of eastern Peoples Republic of China. ... Fuyu County is one of prefectures of Qiqihar, Heilongjiang Province . ...   (Chinese: ; Pinyin: Jílín; Wade-Giles: Chi-lin; Postal System Pinyin: Kirin; Manchu: Girin ula), is a province of the Peoples Republic of China located in the northeastern part of the country. ... Combatants Nationalist Party of China Communist Party of China Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Mao Zedong Strength 4,300,000 (July 1946) 3,650,000 (June 1948) 1,490,000 (June 1949) 1,200,000 (July 1946) 2,800,000 (June 1948) 4,000,000 (June 1949) The Chinese Civil War... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ...

Dissident writer

Li Ao was credited for his contributions to the democratic movement in Taiwan between the 1960s and 1980s. In the 1960s, he was the editor-in-chief of Wenxing (文星), a magazine that promoted democracy and personal freedom. He was jailed by the Kuomintang government for more than five years (from 1972 and 1976, and again from 1981 to 1982) after helping a pro-Taiwan independence political prisoner, Peng Ming-min, escape to Japan in 1963. Ironically, Li Ao had a long history of being an advocate of reunification. Democracy (literally rule by the people, from the Greek demos, people, and kratos, rule[1]) is a [[List of forms of government|form of government]. While the term democracy is typically used in the context of a political state, the principles are also applicable to other groups and organizations. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Kuomintang of China (abbreviation KMT) (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Tongyong Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Chung1-kuo2 Kuo2-min2-tang3)[1], also often translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party, is a political party in the Republic of China, now on Taiwan, and is currently the largest political party in... Taiwan independence movement (Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: , Pe̍h-oÄ“-jÄ«: Tâi-oân To̍k-li̍p Å«n-tōng; abbreviated to 台獨, Táidú, Tâi-to̍k) is a right-wing political movement whose goal is primarily to create an independent and sovereign Republic of Taiwan. ... Peng Ming-min(Taiwanese: Phêⁿ Bêng-bín; 彭明敏, pinyin: Péng Míngmǐn) (born August 15, 1923) is a noted Taiwan independence activist and politician. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... Several articles deal with the theme of reunification: Chinese reunification German reunification Irish Reunification Korean reunification Polish reunification Cyprus reunification Vietnam reunification Yemen unification This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

Throughout the 1970s, Li Ao received much international attention for his imprisonment. He was highlighted by Amnesty International as one of the three most important political prisoners in Taiwan in 1974. Amnesty International (commonly known as Amnesty or AI) is a non-governmental organization that promotes human rights. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ...

After his release, Li Ao continued to publish magazines and newspapers, criticizing the government. Ninety-six of his books were banned in Taiwan before 1991. In the 1980s he also sponsored other numerous anti-Kuomintang magazines. 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

His novel Mountaintop Love (《上山．上山．愛》), about a mother and daughter who fall in love with the same man, though several years apart, solidified Li's status as a serious novelist. His other novel, Martyrs' Shrine: The Story of the Reform Movement of 1898 in China (北京法源寺), is about the beginning and the failure of the Hundred Days' Reform. Li also published his autobiography in 2001, revealing more than ten of his romantic affairs in the book. The bulk of his work, however, is non-fiction, consisting mainly of essays and historical commentaries. The Hundred Days Reform (Chinese: 戊戌变法, wùxÅ« biànfÇŽ, or 百日維新, bÇŽirì wéixÄ«n) was a 103-day reform from 11 June to 21 September 1898. ... Cover of the first English edition of 1793 of Benjamin Franklins autobiography. ...

Entry into politics

Li Ao strongly supports the idea of "One country, two systems" proposed by Deng Xiaoping. He believes that the unification of China is inevitable and at one point advocated immediate surrender. He thinks that if reunification were to come as soon as possible, it would be more beneficial for Taiwan. This, in combination with his past as a political dissident and his witty style, has made him a popular figure among supporters of Chinese reunification. Conversely, it has also made him an unpopular figure amongst supporters of Taiwan independence. One country, two systems (Simplified Chinese: 一国两制; Traditional Chinese: 一國兩制; pinyin: yì; guó liÇŽng zhì; Jyutping: jat1 gwok3 loeng5 zai3; Yale: yāt gwok leúhng jai), is an idea originally proposed by Deng Xiaoping, then Paramount Leader of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), for the unification of China. ... Deng Xiaoping   (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Teng Hsiao-ping; August 22, 1904–February 19, 1997) was a leader in the Communist Party of China (CCP). ... Chinese (re)unification (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: ) is a goal of Chinese nationalism that refers to the reunification of all of Greater China under a single political entity. ... Taiwan independence movement (Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: , Pe̍h-oÄ“-jÄ«: Tâi-oân To̍k-li̍p Å«n-tōng; abbreviated to 台獨, Táidú, Tâi-to̍k) is a right-wing political movement whose goal is primarily to create an independent and sovereign Republic of Taiwan. ...

Li participated in the presidential election in 2000 as a candidate for the New Party. Li usually plays the role of a political gadfly, and his campaign was largely symbolic. He took the election as an opportunity to "educate" the people of Taiwan. Both he and his party publicly encouraged people to vote for James Soong to the point of stating during the presidential debates that he was not planning to vote for himself and that people should vote for Soong. The Election for the 10th-term President and Vice-President of the Republic of China (第十任中華民國總統、副總統選舉), the second ever direct elections for President and Vice President of the Republic of China on Taiwan and the 10th... The New Party (新黨, xīndăng), formerly the Chinese New Party (CNP; 中華新黨, zhōnghúa xīndăng), is a political party in the Republic of China on Taiwan. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Since the 2000 presidential election, Li Ao has bitterly spoken out against pro-independence Nobel laureate Yuan T. Lee, who publicly supported Chen Shui-bian. He has also accused former President Lee Teng-hui of corruption. In October 2004 Li ran in the December 11 legislative election as a non-partisan candidate in the South Taipei constituency, for which he was subsequently elected in the last winning place. He took office as an independent legislator on February 1, 2005. Yuan Tseh Lee (Chinese: 李遠哲 Pinyin: Lǐ YuÇŽnzhé, Wade-Giles: Li³ Yüan³-che²) (born November 19, 1936) is a famous chemist. ... Chen Shui-bian, President of the Republic of China Chen Shui-bian (ch. ... This is a Chinese name; the family name is 李 (Li). ... October 2004 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December See also: October 2004 in sports Events Deaths in October • 29 HRH Princess Alice • 25 John Peel • 24 James Cardinal Hickey • 23 Robert Merrill • 19 Paul Nitze • 18 K. M. Veerappan • 16 Pierre Salinger • 10 Christopher... The Election for the 6th Legislative Yuan (第六屆立法委員選舉) of the Republic of China on Taiwan was held on December 11, 2004. ... For other uses, see Taipei (disambiguation). ... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

In February 2005, Li held a press conference, accusing PFP leader, James Soong of having changed his opposition towards military weapons purchase from the United States under the influence of people of Pro-American inclination, people with CIA backgrounds and arms traders who would receive kick-backs. Li threatened Soong that he will reveal the names of the people with CIA backgrounds, who were influencing Soong, to the general public unless Soong reverted to his previous opposition position.[1] PFP legislators dismissed the accusation and responded that Li Ao should reveal his evidence to support his story.[2] This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The CIA Seal The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an American intelligence agency, responsible for obtaining and analyzing information about foreign governments, corporations, and individuals, and reporting such information to the various branches of the U.S. Government. ...

Later that year, in June, Li revealed to the Taiwanese press that he had exclusive information from the CIA concerning the 3-19 shooting incident. He alleged that the real motive of the killer was to assassinate Vice-President Annette Lu in order to garner sympathy votes for Chen Shui-bian, and that the killer had been condoned by the governing party for ulterior political reasons. After flashing a series of supposedly CIA-endorsed documents to reporters, he mailed them to Annette Lu, claiming that she would need to know the full extent of truth about the assassination attempt. The CIA Seal The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an American intelligence agency, responsible for obtaining and analyzing information about foreign governments, corporations, and individuals, and reporting such information to the various branches of the U.S. Government. ... Chen and Lu, only minutes before the shooting incident The 3-19 shooting incident (三一九槍擊事件) was a possible assassination attempt on President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu while they were campaigning in Tainan on March 19, 2004, the day before the Republic of China presidential election. ... Hsiu-lien Annette Lu (Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ) (born June 7, 1944) is the incumbent vice president of the Republic of China and member of the Democratic Progressive Party. ... Chen Shui-bian, President of the Republic of China Chen Shui-bian (ch. ...

On September 19, 2005, Li Ao returned to China for the first time in 56 years. He was invited to give speeches at Beijing University, Qinghua University and Fudan University where he was warmly received, and this trip is claimed to have had significant impact on observers of the China-Taiwan strait relations issue. September 19 is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Peking University 博学审问慎思明辨 Peking University or Beijing University (pinyin Běijīng Dàxué), colloquially Beida (北大, pinyin běidà), is one of the most prestigious universities in China. ... Tsinghua University 自強不息，厚德載物 (Self-discipline and social commitment) Tsinghua University (Pinyin: Qīnghuá Dàxué; Traditional: 清華大學; Simplified: 清华大学; Wade-Giles Ching-hua Ta-hsüeh) is one of the most prestigious universities in... Fudan University (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ), located in Shanghai, China, is one of the oldest leading and most selective universities in the Peoples Republic of China. ...

Li Ao was a candidate for the 2006 Taipei Mayoral election. The mayoral and city-councillor elections for Taipei and Kaohsiung, the two special municipalities administered directly under the central government, consisted the 2006 Republic of China municipal elections on 2006-12-09. ...

Family life and trivia

Li is known for his quick wits and energetic vocal style. Although not primarily a novelist, he has released two novels to date.

Li has had many tempestuous love affairs. His eldest daughter by his first wife, Li Wen, is an Asian American who now teaches in Beijing. He had a very short-lived marriage to Taiwanese movie star Hu Yin-meng in 1980; they divorced after just 4 months, 22 days. His present wife, 29 years his junior, was accosted at the streets of Taipei. They have a son and daughter. An Asian American is a person of Asian ancestry or origin who was born in or is an immigrant to the United States. ... Beijing (Chinese: 北京; pinyin: BÄ›ijÄ«ng; IPA: ;  ), a metropolis in northern China, is the capital of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). ...

Li is interestingly known for generally appearing in public wearing a Fred Rogers-like cardigan sweater. He also has a habit of taking pictures of the audience at public events where the media is present since he believes that it is only fair to take pictures of the people who are taking pictures of him. Reverend Frederick McFeely Rogers (March 20, 1928 – February 27, 2003) was an American educator, minister, songwriter and television host. ...

On October 24, 2006, Li sprayed tear gas and wielded a stun gun during a Legislative Yuan National Defense Committee meeting, forcing several members of parliament to flee. He was attempting to stop debate on purchasing attack submarines and patriot anti-aircraft missiles for $16 billion dollars from the U.S.^[1] He was also wearing the mask from V for Vendetta.^[2] A riot control agent is a type of lachrymatory agent (or lacrimatory agent). ... The words stun gun can mean:- An electroshock gun or electric shock baton: these exist in the real world. ... This article is about the comic book series. ...

References

1. ^ BBC News: Taiwan MP in 'tear gas' protest
2. ^ News.163.com: Li Ao wears gas mask and sprays tear gas in Legislative Yuan (Chinese)

See also

• Politics of the Republic of China