ABSTRACT
Lee Teng-hui and other Kuomintang (KMT) leaders have long understood the implications of Taiwan’s unique political identity. The debate has been the source of the greatest share of political hostility between the Democratic Progressive Party and KMT. Lee Teng-hui knows that his popularity is in large part dependent on his handling discussions surrounding Taiwan’s political status and the related issue of subethnic rivalry. Taiwan’s success in joining Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation and progress towards gaining membership on the General Agreement on Tariffs and Treaties (GATT) has buoyed-up the party’s hopes of success in gaining a UN seat. Lee Teng-hui saw the promise of continued prosperity as the best way to handle concerns over Taiwan’s political status and continued Taiwanese-mainlander rivalry. Lee continued his campaign for Taiwan representation on the U.N., GATT membership, and for full membership on international and Asian sports committees.
