The first lady of the Republic of China () refers to the wife of the president of the Republic of China. Since 1949, the position has been based in Taiwan, where they are often called by the title of first lady of Taiwan, in addition to first lady of the Republic of China (ROC).
The position was vacant from 2016 to 2024, as President Tsai Ing-wen, the first woman to be elected to the presidency, is unmarried.
First Ladies (before the 1947 Constitution) Spouse Image President Took office Left office 1 Lu Muzhen(1867–1952) Sun Yat-sen 1 January 1912 10 March 1912 2 Yu Yishang(1872–1956) Yuan Shikai 10 March 1912 6 June 1916 3 Oei Hui-lan(1889–1992) V. K. Wellington Koo 1 October 1926 16 June 1927 4 Soong Mei-ling(1898–2003) Chiang Kai-shek 1 August 1943 20 May 1948
First Ladies (after the 1947 Constitution; based in Taiwan after 1949) Since 1949, individuals in this position have been known as the First Lady of Taiwan, in addition to the First Lady of the Republic of China. No.SpouseImageTenurePresidentNotes 4 Soong Mei-ling(5 March 1898 – 23 October 2003) 20 May 1948–5 April 1975 Chiang Kai-shek Also known as Madame Chiang Kai-shek or Madame Chiang 5 Liu Chi-chun(1908 – 24 December 1999) 6 April 1975–20 May 1978 Yen Chia-kan Was 1st to take office on the island. 6 Chiang Fang-liang(15 May 1916 – 15 December 2004) 20 May 1978–13 January 1988 Chiang Ching-kuoBorn Faina Epatcheva Vahaleva in Orsha in the Russian Empire, (present-day Belarus). She met her husband Chiang Ching-kuo while both were working at the Ural Heavy Machinery Factory in Sverdlovsk, USSR (present-day Yekaterinburg). Epatcheva adopted the Chinese names Chiang Fang-liang or Faina Chiang Fang-liang. She avoided politics during her time as first lady. 7 Tseng Wen-hui(born 31 March 1926) 13 January 1988–20 May 2000 Lee Teng-hui Wife of the first popularly elected president. 8 Wu Shu-chen(born 11 July 1953) 20 May 2000–20 May 2008 Chen Shui-bian Member of the Legislative Yuan from 1987 until 1990. 9 Christine Chow Ma(born 30 November 1952) 20 May 2008–20 May 2016 Ma Ying-jeou Born Chow Mei-ching (周美青) in British Hong Kong, Chow headed the legal department of Mega International Commercial Bank, where she worked as a lawyer for more than 20 years, prior to becoming first lady. –None 20 May 2016–20 May 2024 Tsai Ing-wen President Tsai Ing-wen, the first female head of state in the Republic's history, is unmarried. 10 Wu Mei-ju(born 1964) 20 May 2024–Incumbent Lai Ching-te
Longevity Rank First Lady Born Died Age 1 Soong Mei-ling March 5, 1898 October 23, 2003 2 Oei Hui-lan 2 December 1889 1992 to 3 Tseng Wen-huiAlive 4Liu Chi-chun 1908 24 December 1999 to 5 Chiang Fang-liang 6Lu Muzhen 30 July 1867 7 September 1952 7Yu Yishang 1872 1956 to 8 Christine Chow Ma Alive 9 Wu Shu-chen Alive 10 Wu Mei-ju 1964 Alive
See also List of presidents of the Republic of China First family of the Republic of China
References