New Tide faction

The New Tide faction was the centrist and largest faction of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Taiwan before the party voted to dissolve all factions in 2006. Though dissolved, it remains the largest faction in the DPP. The faction initially advocated social democracy, attempting to work with other labor and social movements to influence public policy. The faction also advocated the use of group action to resist the influence of elected officials in the Tangwai and DPP (many early New Tide members entered politics via Tangwai publications and social movements rather than electoral politics, as a result, most were not elected officials). The faction initially appeared in the form of "domestic Taiwan independence activists" (in contrast to Taiwan independence activists operating from abroad) It pushed the DPP to include Taiwan independence in the party charter, to boost their position against the more moderate factions, as well as against World United Formosans for Independence members returning from exile. History Establishment The New Tide faction was initially composed of editorial members of "The Movement" magazine established in 1984. Important members of the time included Chiou I-jen, Wu Nai-ren, Hung Chi-chang, Lin Cho-shui, Liu Shou-ch'eng. Members who would later leave the party included Sisy Chen. The early positions of the faction included Taiwan independence, group action, and social democracy. In later years the faction moderated its position and emphasized pragmatism more. With a clear political manifesto and strong factional discipline, the New Tide became one of the most powerful factions in the DPP.