Chen Shui-bian (Chinese: 陳水扁; Pinxin: Chén Shuǐbiǎn; born 1950), also known by his nickname A-bian, is a politician and lawyer who served as the first President of the Republic of China from the DPP between 2000 and 2008. He had been the Mayor of Taipei from 1994 until 1998, when he was defeated by Ma Ying-jeou.
Despite his background as a relatively pro-independence politician, he vowed to be more moderate during his presidency. He kept his promise of steering clear of independence, but his government embarked on a de-Sinicization campaign that saw them rename public institutions and rewrite school curricula to remove references to China and make them more Taiwan-centric.
He received support from the previous president, the Blue turned Green Lee Teng-hui, who retained his popularity after his stepping down and frequently endorsed Chen. His popularity was also boosted by US President George W. Bush, who had pledged to do "whatever it takes" to protect Taiwan.
However, his administration also encountered severe roadblocks caused by the KMT-controlled legislature and the PRC being unwilling to cooperate with him. The former limited his ability to govern effectively, while the latter refused to enter talks with him regarding cross-strait negotiations, such as the establishment of direct commercial flights between Taiwan and Mainland China. He also retaliated, blocking the construction of the island's proposed fourth nuclear power plant, in line with the DPP's anti-nuclear policy.
