born Jan. 15, 1923, near Tan-shui, Taiwan
First Taiwan-born president (19882000) of Taiwan (Republic of China).
He became president in 1988 after the death of Chiang Ching-kuo . He was reelected in 1990 and won a landslide victory in 1996 in Taiwan's first direct presidential election. Lee favoured a policy of "flexible diplomacy" in dealing with the People's Republic of China. His successor, Chen Shui-bian (Ch'en Shui-pian) was the first president not from the Nationalist Party .