Roger Hsieh

Hsieh attended Taichung First High School, studied law at National Taiwan University alongside Wei Ting-chao, and completed graduate work in political science at National Chengchi University.[1]

While studying at National Taiwan University, Hsieh, Wei and legal academic Peng Ming-min printed ten thousand copies of the "Declaration of Self-Salvation of the Taiwanese People," a manifesto advocating the overthrow of the Kuomintang one-party state.[2][3] The three were promptly arrested;[4] Hsieh was subject to torture.[5] Hsieh and Wei were later released but did not play a role in their mentor's escape to Sweden, though the government suspected the pair of aiding Peng.[6] Hsieh and Wei were jailed for a second time in 1971.[7][8] For his support of democracy, Hsieh spent over eleven years behind bars.[9]

Following his release, Hsieh spent seven years in the United States, and returned to Taiwan in 1986.[10] Demonstrators gathered at Chiang Kai-shek International Airport on 30 November 1986 to show support for Hsieh and fellow dissident Hsu Hsin-liang.[11][12] Barred from entry into Taiwan on that day,[13][14] the two explored alternative means of getting into the country and eventually succeeded.

In December 2018, Hsieh was exonerated by the Transitional Justice Commission.[15]

Another NTU classmate, Kuomintang member Shih Chi-yang, aided Hsieh's early political career.[16] With the support of Huang Hsin-chieh, Hsieh was elected to the Legislative Yuan in 1992 and 1995, though he lost election in 1998.[17] During his legislative tenure, Hsieh attempted to pass bills regarding compensation to victims of the White Terror like himself.[18] According to legislative inquires launched by Hsieh, the White Terror period saw over 29,000 people tried in court.[19][20] Subsequently, Hsieh was named an adviser to President Chen Shui-bian. While serving in this position, Hsieh spent much of his time investigating the La Fayette-class frigate scandal.[21][22] As a result of Hsieh's probe, Andrew Wang, an accused arms dealer, filed a lawsuit against him in August 2001,[23] an action that was later reviewed by the Control Yuan.[24] Hsieh resigned as presidential adviser in 2001 to run in that year's legislative elections.[25]

Hsieh died in a hospital in New Taipei on 8 September 2019, aged 85.[26]