The 2004 presidential election saw incumbent Chen Shui-bian get re-elected for a second term with 50.11% of the popular vote, a margin of 29,518 votes.1 Many believe Chen to have gained an edge over the united pan-Blue Lien-Soong ticket thanks to sympathy turnout from undecided voters for having survived an assassination attempt the night before the election.
In his speech directly after the results had been announced, KMT candidate Lien Chan did not concede defeat and demanded a recount, a sudden U-turn from his stance he expressed the night before, stating the shooting was no basis to intervene in the election procedures. While Chen did not oppose the initiative for a recount, examinations hadn't found enough fraudulent votes to even theoretically sway the outcome, so a recount was never carried out.
A referendum on Taiwan's international status had been held on the same day as the election, which did not meet the required minimum turnout due to a boycott by the pan-Blue.
In the leadup to the election, Beijing had set up an arsenal of roughly 500 missiles aimed at Taiwan across the strait, which is said to have had only a polarising effect, mostly reinforcing the pan-Green camp's position that China poses a threat to Taiwan.
