Cho Jung-tai

In this Taiwanese name, the surname is Cho.
Cho Jung-tai
卓榮泰
Official portrait, 2025
29th Premier of the Republic of China
Incumbent
Assumed office
12 May 2024
PresidentTsai Ing-wen
(until 20 May 2024)
Lai Ching-te
(since 20 May 2024)
Vice PremierCheng Li-chiun
Preceded byChen Chien-jen
16th Chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party
In office
9 January 2019 – 20 May 2020
Secretary GeneralLuo Wen-jia
Preceded byLin Yu-chang (acting)
Succeeded byTsai Ing-wen
Secretary-general offices
23rd & 34th Secretary-General of the Executive Yuan
In office
8 September 2017 – 28 December 2018
PremierLai Ching-te
Preceded byChen Mei-ling
Succeeded byHo Pei-shan (acting)
Li Meng-yen
In office
19 September 2005 – 25 January 2006
PremierFrank Hsieh
Preceded byLee Ying-yuan
Succeeded byLiu Yuh-san
12th Secretary-General of the Democratic Progressive Party
In office
15 October 2007 – 15 January 2008
ChairmanChen Shui-bian
Preceded byLin Chia-lung
Succeeded byLee Ying-yuan
Acting Secretary-General to the President
In office
21 May 2007 – 19 August 2007
PresidentChen Shui-bian
Preceded byChiou I-jen
Succeeded byYeh Chu-lan
Member of the Legislative Yuan
In office
1 February 1999 – 19 May 2004
ConstituencyTaipei I
Personal details
Born (1959-01-22) 22 January 1959
Taipei City, Taiwan
PartyDemocratic Progressive Party
Other political
affiliations		Kuomintang (formerly)
EducationNational Chung Hsing University (LLB)
Cho Jung-tai
Traditional Chinese卓榮泰
Simplified Chinese卓荣泰
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZhuó Róngtài
Wade–GilesCho2 Jung2-tʻai4

Cho Jung-tai (Chinese: 卓榮泰; pinyin: Zhuó Róngtài; Wade–Giles: Cho2 Jung2-tʻai4; born 22 January 1959) is a Taiwanese politician who has served as the premier of the Republic of China since 2024.

He served on the Taipei City Council from 1990 to 1998, when he was first elected to the Legislative Yuan. Cho remained a legislator through 2004, when he was appointed deputy secretary-general to the president during the Chen Shui-bian administration. During Frank Hsieh's 2008 presidential bid, Cho assumed the post of Secretary-General of the Democratic Progressive Party. He returned to public service in 2017, as secretary-general of the Executive Yuan under Premier William Lai. In 2019, Cho succeeded Tsai Ing-wen as leader of the Democratic Progressive Party. He remained leader of the party until May 2020, when Tsai resumed the role.

Early life and education

Cho was born in Taipei, Taiwan, on January 22, 1959.[1] His father was a member of the Taipei City Council.[2] He graduated from National Chung Hsing University with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree in 1984.[3] After finishing law school, he joined a Taipei law firm in 1985 and worked briefly as a paralegal.[4]

Political career

Cho was a member of the Kuomintang.[5] Cho launched his career in politics as a city council aide to Frank Hsieh during his tenure in the Taipei City Council.[6] He was later elected as member of the Taipei City Council from 1990 to 1998.[7] Following two terms as city councillor, Cho was elected to the Legislative Yuan in 1998 and 2001.[8] He vacated the position in May 2004, succeeding Chen Che-nan as deputy secretary-general to President Chen Shui-bian.[9][10] He was appointed spokesperson of the Executive Yuan in January 2005.[7] In January 2006, Cho resumed his previous post as deputy-secretary general within the presidential office.[11] Cho was appointed Secretary-General of the Democratic Progressive Party in October 2007.[12] He was replaced shortly following Frank Hsieh's loss in the presidential elections in March 2008.

Cho was appointed Secretary-General of the Executive Yuan in September 2017, and took office with the inauguration of the William Lai cabinet.[13][14] In December 2018, Cho announced his intention to contest the DPP chairmanship vacated by Tsai Ing-wen after the DPP's landslide defeat in the local elections of 2018.[15] The leadership election was held on 6 January 2019.[16] During the contest, Cho received support from party heavyweights among the "middle generation" or "Wild Lily generation," including endorsements from Cheng Wen-tsan, Lin Chia-lung, Chen Chi-mai, Huang Wei-che, Lin Chih-chien, Weng Chang-liang and Pan Men-an.[17] The Democratic Progressive Party reported that voter turnout was 16.9%. Cho won 24,699 votes total, and 72.6% of all votes cast.[18][19] Cho took office on 9 January 2019, when the electoral results were formally announced.[20][21] Cho stepped down from the chairmanship on 20 May 2020, as Tsai Ing-wen was inaugurated for a second presidential term.[22]

Premiership (2024–present)

Main article: Cho cabinet

Cho was a central figure in then-Vice President Lai Ching-te's electoral campaign for the presidency in the 2024 elections. Following his victory, Lai appointed Cho to be his premier upon his inauguration on 20 May.[23]

The Judiciary and Organic Laws Committee of the Legislative Yuan voted on December 18 to propose that the Control Yuan impeach Premier Cho over his refusal to countersign the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures.[24]

In March 2026, Cho made a personal trip to Tokyo to watch the 2026 World Baseball Classic, marking the first time the Taiwanese Premier visited Japan since diplomatic relations were severed in 1972. Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun criticized the visit as having "evil designs" and warned "Japan's indulgence in provocation ... will inevitably come at a cost". The Japanese government defended the trip as a personal affair, while Cho said he paid for the trip himself.[25]

Personal life

Cho's wife, Kao Mei-chih (高美智), is a former law school classmate. They married in 1984.[4]

References

  1. ^ 中央通訊社 (2026-03-04). "卓榮泰 | 關鍵字新聞". 中央社 CNA (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-03-04.
  2. ^ Lu, Su-mei (2024-08-08). "Cho Jung-tai reminisces about his father's time observing city council question sessions" (in Chinese). SET News. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
  3. ^ "CHO Jung-tai, Secretary-General, Executive Yuan". Executive Yuan, Republic of China (Taiwan). Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Alumni: Cho Jung-tai" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). National Chung Hsing University. February 21, 2025. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
  5. ^ Pan, Jason (29 August 2019). "Tseng appointment sparks DPP row". Taipei Times. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Cho Jung-tai (4)". Legislative Yuan.
  7. ^ a b Chang, Rich (30 January 2005). "New Cabinet spokesman Cho always ready to serve". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  8. ^ "DPP to have two-person race in chairman by-election". Taiwan News. Central News Agency. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  9. ^ Lin, Chieh-yu (12 May 2004). "Su Tseng-chang to take Presidential Office reins". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  10. ^ Lin, Chieh-yu (23 May 2004). "Good appointments, good politics: analysts". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  11. ^ Chiu, Yu-Tzu (24 January 2006). "Mark Chen confirmed as Presidential Office head". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  12. ^ Ko, Shu-ling (16 October 2007). "Chen Shui-bian announces party appointments". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  13. ^ Chen, Wei-han (6 September 2017). "Lai starts reshuffle of Executive Yuan". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  14. ^ Chen, Wei-han (8 September 2017). "Lai to replace two Cabinet ministers, retain all others". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  15. ^ Yang, Chun-hui (15 December 2018). "Cabinet official joins DPP race". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  16. ^ Yeh, Su-ping; Kao, Evelyn (6 January 2019). "DPP holds chairman by-election". Central News Agency. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  17. ^ "Cabinet official joins DPP race". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2019-01-18.
  18. ^ Wang, Flor (6 January 2019). "Cho Jung-tai elected DPP chairman". Central News Agency. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  19. ^ Yang, Chun-hui (7 January 2019). "DPP picks Cho Jung-tai as new party chairman". Taipei Times. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  20. ^ Huang, Tzu-ti (6 January 2018). "Pro-Tsai candidate claims victory as new leader of Taiwan's DPP". Taiwan News. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  21. ^ "DPP chairman planning to establish platform for policy brainstorming". Taipei Times. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  22. ^ Pan, Jason (14 May 2020). "DPP chairman leaving office with 'beautiful memories'". Taipei Times. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  23. ^ "President-elect Lai appoints ex-DPP chair Cho Jung-tai as premier". Focus Taiwan. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  24. ^ "Opposition lawmakers propose Control Yuan impeach premier over fiscal law - Focus Taiwan". Focus Taiwan - CNA English News. 2025-12-18. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  25. ^ "Premier Cho defends 'private' Japan visit amid WBC controversy". Central News Agency. 2026-03-13. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
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