The Peasant Party (Chinese: 農民黨; pinyin: Nóngmíndǎng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lông‑bîn-tóng) is a minor party in the Republic of China (Taiwan). It was established on 3 February 1989, but only came into the political horizon when its founder Tiuⁿ Bêng-hián (張銘顯) was elected in the 2005 National Assembly election.[1] Tiuⁿ claimed that the party has more than 6000 members. On the national question, it leans towards Taiwan independence.
It regards 'the Taiwanese people' to be all who were born in Taiwan ('jus soli'). It considers Taiwan to be (almost) terra nullius, but acknowledges that several states have exercised sovereignty over Taiwan, seemingly in an attempt to counter any claim of sovereignty by arguments of jus sanguinis.[citation needed]
Economically, the party believes that the government should protect the basic income of the farmers (peasants); that Taiwan's membership of the World Trade Organization is not an excuse to give up agriculture, allowing a flood of imported agricultural produce.[citation needed]
The Peasant Party has been sending groups to pay tribute to the Yasukuni Shrine in Japan, to pay tributes to the 30 308 Taiwanese soldiers drafted during the Japanese rule over Taiwan.[1]
