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Taiwanese singer and politician From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Yu Tian (Chinese: 余天; pinyin: Yú Tiān; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Û Thian; born 18 February 1947), born Yu Tsing-yuan (Chinese: 余清源; pinyin: Yú Qīngyuán; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Û Chheng-goân), is a Taiwanese politician and pop singer in Mandarin and Hokkien. A member of the Democratic Progressive Party, Yu currently serves as a member of the Legislative Yuan and previously held the same seat from 2008 to 2012.
Yu Tian | |
---|---|
余天 | |
National Policy Adviser to the President | |
Assumed office 1 August 2024 | |
President | Lai Ching-te |
Member of the Legislative Yuan | |
In office 21 March 2019 – 31 January 2024 | |
Preceded by | Gao Jyh-peng |
Succeeded by | Lee Kuen-chen |
Constituency | New Taipei 3 |
In office 1 February 2008 – 31 January 2012 | |
Preceded by | Chu Chun-hsiao |
Succeeded by | Gao Jyh-peng |
Constituency | New Taipei 3 |
3rd Head of the New Taipei Branch of the Democratic Progressive Party | |
In office 1 June 2016 – 10 July 2020 | |
Chairperson | Tsai Ing-wen Lin Yu-chang (acting) Cho Jung-tai |
Preceded by | Lo Chih-cheng |
Succeeded by | Ho Po-wen |
Personal details | |
Born | Hsinchu, Taiwan | 18 February 1947
Political party | Democratic Progressive Party |
Spouse | Lee Ya-ping |
Children | 3 (1 deceased) |
Education | Chien-Hwa Junior High School |
Occupation | Politician |
Profession | Singer |
Born in Hsinchu, Yu Tian graduated from Hsinchu Chien Hua Junior High School .[1][2]
Yu is best known for his 1977 release "Under the Banyan Tree", a Mandarin cover version of the Japanese song Kitaguni no haru , and remained popular throughout the 1980s.[3][4] In 2003, Yu founded the Taiwan Cultural Entertainment Development Association.[5] Four years later, he launched a Kaohsiung-based entertainment labor union.[6] Yu worked with Chthonic on the 2011 album Takasago Army and formally announced a return to the entertainment industry upon losing the 2012 legislative elections.[7][8]
Within the Democratic Progressive Party, Yu Tian is allied with Yu Shyi-kun.[9] He is also known for his support of former president Chen Shui-bian.[10][11] Yu ran for New Taipei 3 in 2008, and defeated Kuomintang incumbent Chu Chun-hsiao by approximately 2,000 votes.[12] Chu filed an unsuccessful lawsuit in an attempt to annul the election results.[13] A separate case was brought against Yu supporter Wang Ying-lan, who was charged with making threats to the opposition.[14] Wang was later released on bail.[15] In November 2008, Yu and other DPP politicians publicly protested Ma Ying-jeou's meeting with Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait Chairman Chen Yunlin.[16] The next year, Yu's DPP membership was suspended because he had failed to fulfill a fundraising quota.[17] In 2010, Yu was named to Tsai Ing-wen's New Taipei mayoral campaign team.[18]
Though there was speculation that Yu would not receive DPP backing in a reelection bid,[19][20] Yu was listed fourteenth on the Democratic Progressive Party's proportional representation party list, and expected to win.[21][22] During the campaign, Kuomintang politicians accused Yu and others of gambling, and in response, Yu charged them with defamation.[23]
The Taiwan Competitiveness Forum regarded Yu Tian as a controversial figure prior to the start of his first legislative term.[24] During his first term, Yu was ranked highly by the Citizen Congress Watch.[25][26]
In 2018, Yu was the only candidate to run in elections for the DPP chapter leadership in New Taipei.[27] After Gao Jyh-peng was removed from office,[28][29] Yu Tian was named the DPP candidate for by-elections held in March 2019. Yu won 56,888 votes, and defeated Kuomintang candidate Cheng Shih-wei as well as independent Su Ching-yen.[30][31] Yu took office on 21 March 2019.[32][33] Yu was reelected to a full term in 2020.[2]
Yu is married to fellow entertainer Lee Ya-ping .[34] Yu and Lee have two daughters, Yu Shiao-ping and Yu Yuan-chi ,[3][35] and one son, Ken Yu .[36] His family was the target of extortion by the Bamboo Union in 2005.[37]
Yu Tian's adopted younger brother was sentenced to death by Chinese authorities for attempting to smuggle heroin into the country in March 2005.[38][39][40]
Yu Tian's second daughter, Yu Yuan-chi, died with a late stage of rectal cancer at Taipei Veterans General Hospital on August 21, 2022, aged 39.[41][42]
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