News analysis

Former president Lee Teng-hui's complicated legacy in Taiwanese politics

New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

To the Taiwanese, former president Lee Teng-hui, who died on Thursday, played a huge and pivotal role in the democratisation of Taiwan and the rise of the Taiwanese identity.

But he was also a controversial figure who elicited either love or hatred in the island's residents, depending on their political stripes.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 01, 2020, with the headline Former president Lee Teng-hui's complicated legacy in Taiwanese politics. Subscribe