Tsotanhui Clique
Tsotanhui Clique, also known as the New Politics Club, the Chen Cheng Clique, or the Tuanpai, was a faction within the Kuomintang led by Chen Cheng. The clique was primarily composed of military officers and political instructors drawn from the Three Principles of the People Youth Corps, the Whampoa Military Academy, and the Blue Shirts Society, all of whom were loyal to Chen Cheng.
After the Kuomintang's retreat to Taiwan, the Tsotanhui Clique replaced the declining CC Clique as the most powerful faction within the party. However, with the rise of Chiang Ching-kuo, the faction gradually weakened and eventually lost its influence.
Following Chen Cheng’s death in 1965, the clique continued under new leadership, including Huang Shao-ku, Ni Wenya, Chao Tzu-chi.
The Tsotanhui Clique was the largest faction in the Legislative Yuan prior to the election, consisting of around 160 legislators. It was led by Legislative Yuan President Ni Wen-ya, Majority Leader Chao Tzu-chi, and KMT Legislative Branch Secretary-General. The faction was widely recognized for its hawkish political stance. Contemporary magazines reported that Chao was known for influencing voting alignments within the legislature, particularly against political rivals such as Liu Kuo-tsai and Lee Huan.
New leadership of clique established the New Politics Development Foundation, with Huang Shao-ku serving as its first chairman and other board directors including Yuan Shouqian, Ni Wen-ya, Chao Tzu-chi, and Chen Li-an.Contemporary reports estimated the foundation’s assets at approximately NT$55 million.
During the intra-party struggles that followed Chiang Ching-kuo’s death, the clique lent its support to Lee Teng-hui in his confrontation with the KMT’s “non-mainstream faction” and backed the political career of Chen Li-an, the son of Chen Cheng.
In 1988, Chao Tzu-chi sought the position of Vice President of the Legislative Yuan but was defeated by Liang Su-yung. Because of the anonymous letter incident, the CC Clique leadership reportedly refused to support Chao, with one senior legislator stating, “We would rather vote for the Democratic Progressive Party.” In 1992, the Tsotanhui Clique donated its political funds and a 140-ping office to the Kuomintang headquarters, marking the dissolution of the faction.