Lin Ching-yi

Lin Ching-yi (Chinese: 林靜儀; born 12 February 1974) is a Taiwanese physician and politician. She was first elected to the Legislative Yuan in 2016, then re-elected in 2022 by by-election.

Lin Ching-yi MLY
林靜儀
Executive Yuan official portrait of Lin in 2022
Member of the Legislative Yuan
Incumbent
Assumed office 14 January 2022
Preceded by	Chen Po-wei
Constituency	Taichung II
In office 1 February 2016 – 31 January 2020
Constituency	Party-list Proportional Representation
Personal details
Born	(1974-02-12) 12 February 1974 (age 49) Lugu, Nantou, Taiwan
Political party	Democratic Progressive Party
Alma mater	National Taiwan University Chung Shan Medical University
Occupation	Obstetrician-gynecologist politician

Medical career

Lin studied medicine at National Taiwan University and Chung Shan Medical University.^[1] After earning her degree Lin worked at the Chung Shan Medical University Hospital as an obstetrician and gynecologist.^[2] For a decade, she was affiliated with the International Medical Service Program as a volunteer physician, and traveled to many nations, among them Nepal, India, Kyrgyzstan, and Tuvalu.^[3]

Political career

Lin was named to the Gender Equality Committee of the Executive Yuan in 2014, but stated that she could not ignore the effects of the Sunflower Student Movement and subsequently resigned the position.^[2] In May, Lin accepted an appointment to the Department of Women’s Development within the Democratic Progressive Party, calling the movement a political inspiration.^[4]

She was elected to the Legislative Yuan via the proportional representation ballot in January 2016.^[1] When the legislature established the UN Sustainable Development Goals Advisory Council in September 2017, Lin was named chairperson.^[5] In February 2019, she was appointed leader of the Democratic Progressive Party's international affairs department.^[6] While acting as spokeswoman for the Tsai Ing-wen presidential reelection campaign in 2020, Lin was interviewed by Deutsche Welle. During the interview, she stated, "Constitutionally, and presently, we consider the Chinese Communist Party a menacing party and a menacing regime. They have missiles targeting us and have incessantly threatened to invade us by force ... To the nation, such a propositions are treasonous. They are unacceptable and will spark discussions on the limits of freedom of speech." Lin said supporters of Chinese unification "are calling for the nation’s sovereignty to be abandoned so that it can become a part of China", a view she considered treasonous "on many fronts". She subsequently resigned from Tsai's campaign.^[7][8]

Chen Po-wei was recalled from the Legislative Yuan [zh] in October 2021, and a by-election for Taichung's second constituency, Chen's vacant seat, was scheduled for 9 January 2022.^[9] The Democratic Progressive Party nominated Lin to run in the by-election on 3 November 2021.^[10] Twelve days later, Lin formally registered her candidacy.^[11] In addition to Lin Chin-yi and Kuomintang candidate Yen Kuan-heng, there were two independent candidates contesting the by-election, Lin Chin-lien and Lee Sheng-han. Chang Chiung-chun represented the Taiwan Stock Investors' Party.^[12] Lin won the by-election, finishing ahead of Yen and the other three minor party and independent candidates.^[13]

Legislative actions

From November 2017, Lin headed reviews of amendments to the Labor Standards Act [zh], in her capacity as member of the Legislative Yuan's Economics Committee and the Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee.^[14] Opposition parties repeatedly delayed consideration of the amendments,^[15] which were opposed by a number of labor organizations.^[16] criticized Lin's leadership,^[17][18] and engaged in physical confrontations over the bill,^[19] which passed in January 2018.

In December 2017, an amendment proposed by Lin to Article 82 of the Medical Act passed. The amendment enumerated the conditions under which medical professionals could face criminal charges if patients were harmed as a result of medical procedures.^[20] The legislature passed amendments to the HIV Infection Control and Patient Rights Protection Act in May 2018, one of which was initiated by Lin and exempted HIV+ people from disclosing their status to paramedics under certain conditions.^[21]

In December 2018, Lin proposed an amendment to the Referendum Act.^[22][23]

Political stances

Lin is supportive of pension reform,^[24] a larger tax on tobacco products,^[25] and amendments to marital law in Taiwan, so both men and women can consent to marriage at the age of eighteen.^[26] Lin and Yu Mei-nu have co-sponsored amendments to the Civil Code in an attempt to legalize same-sex marriage in Taiwan.^[27][28] Lin, who began attending parallel events hosted alongside the UN Commission on the Status of Women since 2012,^[29] has been critical of China's treatment of Taiwan on the international stage,^[30] and has backed calls for Taiwan to participate in intergovernmental organizations.^[31][32]

In February 2020, Lin complimented the Central Epidemic Command Center on its actions during the COVID-19 pandemic,^[33] and petitioned the Mainland Affairs Council to maintain its protocols when arranging evacuation flights from China.^[34]

References

1. "Lin Ching-yi (9)". Legislative Yuan. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
2. Wei, Yi-chia; Wang, Wen-hsuan; Hsu, Stacy (26 March 2014). "TRADE PACT SIEGE: Doctors recount police beating students". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
3. Pan, Jason (13 January 2022). "Chen Po-wei in hospital after falling off truck". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
4. Wang, Chris (30 May 2014). "DPP introduces its new officials at press conference". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
5. Chen, Wei-han (27 September 2017). "New council to advise on sustainable development". Taipei Times. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
6. Su, Fun-her; Hetherington, William (14 February 2019). "DPP names new team to improve mood, creativity". Taipei Times. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
7. Chen, Yu-fu; Hetherington, William (5 January 2020). "DPP responds to spokeswoman's 'treason' statement". Taipei Times. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
8. Lin, Sean (4 January 2020). "Tsai spokeswoman quits after botching interview". Taipei Times. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
9. Chen, Chun-hua; Ko, Lin (28 October 2021). "By-election for Taichung's 2nd electoral district slated for Jan. 9". Central News Agency. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
10. Wang, Ken (3 November 2021). "Former DPP lawmaker Lin Ching-yi picked to run in Taichung by-election". Central News Agency. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
11. Pan, Jason (16 November 2021). "DPP's Lin registers for by-election". Taipei Times. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
12. Pan, Jason (9 December 2021). "Candidates draw ballot numbers for by-election". Taipei Times. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
13. Chao, Li-yan; Hao, Hsueh-chin; Huang, Guo-fang; Wang, Yang-yu; Wu, Che-hao; Yeh, Su-ping; Chiang, Yi-ching (9 January 2022). "DPP's Lin Ching-yi wins Taichung legislative by-election (update)". Central News Agency. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
14. Chen, Wei-han (21 November 2017). "NPP blocks amendment review". Taipei Times. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
15. Lin, Sean (24 November 2017). "Legislators delay labor draft's review". Taipei Times. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
16. Lee, I-chia (6 December 2017). "Criticism continues over DPP labor bill". Taipei Times. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
17. Lin, Sean (14 December 2017). "Attempt to reverse labor draft decision fails". Taipei Times. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
18. Lin, Sean (5 January 2018). "Corrective measure said 'beneath' Control Yuan". Taipei Times. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
19. Lin, Chia-nan (5 December 2017). "Labor bill prompts scuffles inside and out". Taipei Times. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
20. Lin, Sean (30 December 2017). "Revision sets conditions for medical criminal charges". Taipei Times. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
21. Lin, Sean (19 May 2018). "Legislature passes changes on HIV carrier transplants". Taipei Times. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
22. Maxon, Ann (10 January 2019). "DPP lawmaker to propose changes to Referendum Act". Taipei Times. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
23. Peng, Wan-hsin; Hetherington, William (20 December 2018). "Referendum Act changes debated". Taipei Times. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
24. Chen, Wei-han (17 February 2017). "Poll shows public worried about pension stability". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
25. Yu-fu, Chen; Chin, Jonathan (9 January 2017). "Smokers to pay for long-term care plan via taxes". Taipei Times.
26. Hsiao, Ting-fan; Chin, Jonathan (23 September 2016). "Legal marrying age should be equal, DPP legislator says". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
27. Gerber, Abraham (25 October 2016). "DPP and NPP start push for same-sex marriages". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
28. Hsiao, Alison (13 December 2016). "Ker Chien-ming says no directive on same-sex law". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
29. Tham, Davina (4 April 2019). "Springtime for grassroots diplomacy". Taipei Times. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
30. Lin, Sean (31 March 2018). "WHO urged to resist PRC pressure over NGO titles". Taipei Times. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
31. Lu, Yi-hsuan (17 September 2017). "Taiwan to showcase SDGs in New York". Taipei Times. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
32. Chen, Wei-han (3 May 2017). "China blocking WHA invite, say DPP, doctors". Taipei Times. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
33. Lee, I-chia (18 February 2020). "Virus outbreak: Physicians praise CECC's measures". Taipei Times. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
34. Lin, I-chia (9 February 2020). "Virus Outbreak: Medical professionals call for evacuation oversight". Taipei Times. Retrieved 20 April 2020.

 

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