Wang Li-ping (Chinese: 王麗萍; born 6 August 1962) is a Taiwanese activist and politician.

Education and career

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Wang studied Chinese literature at National Chengchi University. Between 1986 and 1994, she was a member of the Yunlin County Council. Wang replaced Fan Sun-lu on the Democratic Progressive Party list and Fan's seat on the Legislative Yuan on 26 May 2000, as Fan was appointed a political deputy minister of education.[1] While a sitting legislator, Wang joined a petition alongside colleagues Chang Ching-fang and Wang Sing-nan. They asked the Control Yuan to investigate Pan Hsi-hsien [zh], who visited China in June 2000, days after retiring from his post at the National Security Bureau, for potential national security concerns.[2] In May 2001, Wang advocated for mutual respect amongst ethnic groups,[3] and criticized the Kuomintang for seeking excessive control over the budget.[4]

After stepping down from the Legislative Yuan, Wang returned to activism.[5] She founded Sister Radio, a radio station run by women about women's rights and related issues. The station began broadcasting on 8 March 2002, International Women's Day, and on the next IWD, shifted to broadcast a 24-hour schedule.[5] In May 2004, the Government Information Office fined Sister Radio for playing sex sounds on air during a segment comparing lesbian intercourse with heterosexual intercourse.[6]

Wang served as a spokesperson for the Million Voices campaign seeking the resignation of president Chen Shui-bian throughout 2006.[7] In August, Wang claimed that people affiliated with the Pan-Green Coalition were planning to assassinate Shih Ming-teh, the leader of the Million Voices campaign.[8] While attending a rally associated with the movement in September, Wang stated, "we, the people of the Republic of Taiwan, will not be defeated by some rain." Pan-Blue supporters of the campaign made their disapproval to her reference of the Taiwan independence movement known until she left the stage.[9][10][11] The Million Voices campaign organized a protest at Taipei Main Station during National Day,[9] but did not apply for the appropriate permits, in contravention of the Assembly and Parade Law. In August 2007, Wang was one of sixteen people indicted for this violation.[12] The Taipei District Court ruled in February 2009 that none of the accused were guilty.[13]

In May 2017, Wang participated in a demonstration at Douliu railway station, calling on the Yunlin County Government to let Formosa Petrochemical's license for coal-fired boilers lapse.[14]

After Taiwanese activist Lee Ming-che was detained by China in March 2017, Wang Li-ping applied to the Taiwan Affairs Office for permission to accompany Lee's wife, Ching-yu, to Lee Ming-che's trial.[15] Wang traveled to China alongside Lee Ching-yu,[16] but was deported.[17][18] In December 2017, Wang opined that society was unsupportive of Lee Ming-che's plight, and observed that Lee Ching-yu was targeted by a smear campaign alleging that she was seeking a career in politics.[19]

References

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  1. ^ "Wang Li-ping (4)". Legislative Yuan. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  2. ^ Lin, Irene (28 June 2000). "Lawmakers want Pan investigated". Taipei Times. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  3. ^ "Speaking Hokkien sets lawmakers' tongues wagging". Taipei Times. 1 May 2001. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  4. ^ Lin, Mei-chun (22 May 2001). "Fan wants school meal money freed". Taipei Times. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  5. ^ a b Phipps, Gavin (10 April 2004). "Sisters are doing it for themselves". Taipei Times. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  6. ^ Hong, Caroline (16 May 2004). "Sister Radio in sex sounds row". Taipei Times. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  7. ^ Ko, Shu-ling (1 September 2006). "Pan-blues want their Shih sit-in donations back". Taipei Times. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  8. ^ Shih, Hsiu-chuan; Mo, Yan-chih (19 August 2006). "KMT confirms Ma, Shih meeting, denies conspiracy". Taipei Times. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  9. ^ a b Hsu, Yung-ming (20 September 2006). "Last week's 'siege' a betrayal of democracy". Taipei Times. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  10. ^ Ko, Shu-ling (11 September 2006). "Rain dampens enthusiasm for protest". Taipei Times. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  11. ^ Chang, Andrew (17 September 2006). "Remember the basic values of democracy". Taipei Times. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  12. ^ Chang, Rich (4 August 2007). "Shih, 15 others indicted over Oct. 10 'siege'". Taipei Times. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  13. ^ Chang, Rich (21 February 2009). "Shih Ming-teh, 15 others not guilty". Taipei Times. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  14. ^ Lin, Chia-nan (13 May 2017). "Protesters call on Yunlin not to renew coal licenses". Taipei Times. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  15. ^ Gerber, Abraham (10 September 2017). "Lee Ching-yu seeks understanding". Taipei Times. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  16. ^ "Photo used to smear Lee Ching-yu, delegation says". Taipei Times. 17 September 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  17. ^ Chen, Wei-han (29 November 2017). "Lee Ming-che sentenced to five years". Taipei Times. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  18. ^ Chen, Wei-han (29 November 2017). "Taiwan blasts Lee's conviction in China". Taipei Times. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  19. ^ Lin, Chia-nan (26 December 2017). "Support Lee Ming-che with cards: group". Taipei Times. Retrieved 18 May 2022.