Assassination Attempt on Chen Shui-bian
March 19th, 2004
March 19th, 2004
How Long Ago?
20 years, 11 months, 24 days ago
Location
Tainan, Taiwan
Category
Politics & Government
People
- Chen Shui-bian
- Annette Lu
Links & References
Tags
Assassination Attempt on Chen Shui-bian
Just days before a pivotal presidential election, Chen Shui-bian, the then-president of the Republic of China (Taiwan), was shot in an assassination attempt while campaigning in Tainan. The attack took place as Chen Shui-bian and his running mate, Annette Lu, were traveling in an open vehicle and greeted supporters. Despite being injured, Chen proceeded to deliver a speech, impacting the election's atmosphere just ahead of polling day.
Chen was shot in an assassination attempt.
The attack happened during a campaign rally.
Despite being injured, Chen delivered a speech.
The incident influenced the election outcome.
What Happened?
On March 19, 2004, in the city of Tainan, Taiwan, an attempt was made on the life of President Chen Shui-bian during his campaigning for the upcoming presidential election scheduled for the following day. As Chen and his vice-presidential candidate, Annette Lu, were parading through the streets in a convoy, a gunshot rang out, striking Chen in the abdomen. The incident occurred amidst heightened political tensions in Taiwan as both major parties – the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) supporting Chen and the Kuomintang (KMT) opposing him – were gearing up for a tightly contested election. Following the shooting, Chen was quickly taken to the hospital. Despite his injury, he returned to the campaign trail later that day, demonstrating political resilience and commitment to his presidency. The assassination attempt shocked the nation and garnered international attention, raising questions about political violence in Taiwan.
Why Does it Matter?
This incident is significant as it reflected the intense political climate in Taiwan at the time, where issues of national identity and relations with China were hotly debated. The attack also energized Chen Shui-bian's supporters, contributing to his narrow victory in the election, and has since been used to explore themes of political polarization and public sentiment in Taiwan’s democracy.
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