Kuomintang

Guide Note

The Kuomintang (KMT) is a political party in Taiwan. It was once located in China, where it was known as the Chinese Nationalist Party. In 1949, it fled to Taiwan to escape the Chinese Communist Party. Nowadays, the KMT is identified by its opposition to independence from China. It is the leader of the Pan-Blue Coalition, and is the current majority party in the legislature. The KMT supported Ma Ying-Jeou's successful presidential campaign in 2008.

Fast Facts

1. Also known as: Chinese Nationalist Party
2. Founded: August 25, 1912¹ in China
3. Founders: Sun Yat-sen
4. Current leader: Wu Po-hsiung
5. Assumed office: April 7, 2007
6. Headquarters: Taipei, Taiwan
7. Official color: Blue
8. Favors closer ties with China
9. Leads the Pan-Blue Coalition
10. Current majority party in Taiwan's Legislative Yuan
11. Won control in the 2008 legislative election
12. Supported Ma Ying-Jeou in the 2008 presidential election
13. Originally formed in China, but relocated to Taiwan
14. The only legally active political party in Taiwan until the 1970s

The Kuomintang was founded in China in 1912 by Sun Yat-sen. It was a nationalist party established after the Xinhai Revolution to fight growing foreign influence in China. It was later ruled by by Chiang Kai-shek during conflicts with Mao Zedong's Chinese Communist Party. In 1949 the KMT was defeated by the Communists and fled to Taiwan. It was the country's sole ruling party until reforms took place in the 1970s.

• Constituency votes: 5,291,512 (53.5%)
• Party list votes: 5,010,801 (51.2%)
  • Total seats won: 81 (Majority party)²