The last decade of the 20th century was a period of transformation and growth for Taiwan. Surviving the 1996 Taiwan Strait missile crisis, Taiwan successfully held its first-ever direct presidential election, marking a crucial turning point in the democratization process. However, on the path of “democratic transition,” progressive and conservative forces continued to clash, and the potential for ethnic division and conflict lingered. The fragile democracy still needed to be carefully consolidated, even though Taiwan had overcome significant challenges.