Lo Chih-ming

After graduating from Kaohsiung Municipal Kaohsiung Senior High School, Lo studied at National Kaohsiung Normal University and received a bachelor's degree in industrial education. He then completed graduate studies in the United States, where he earned a Master of Science (M.S.) from St. Cloud State University^[1] and his Ph.D. in industrial education and industrial technology from the University of Iowa in 1991.^[2][3] His doctoral dissertation was titled, "A systematic model for developing technology education as the primary discipline for advancing technological literacy in general education in Taiwan, Republic of China".^[4]

Lo served four terms in the Kaohsiung City Council as a member of the Kuomintang.^[1][5][6] He joined the Taiwan Solidarity Union upon its founding in 2001 to run for a legislative seat in Kaohsiung.^[7] In 2003, TSU legislator Su Ying-kuei was expelled from the party after charging Lo with illegal lobbying.^[8] Despite the accusations, Lo won reelection in 2004 by partnering with Democratic Progressive Party candidates during the campaign,^[9] and was named one of the TSU's four caucus whips at the start of his second term.^[10] In January 2005, Lo dropped out of a TSU chairmanship election,^[11] and Shu Chin-chiang was appointed to the position.^[12] After participating in an April 2005 protest, Lo was charged with violating the Assembly and Parade Law, and stepped down as whip until he was cleared.^[13] In February 2006, Lo declared his candidacy for the Kaohsiung mayoralty.^[14] As mayor, Lo said he would increase childcare subsidies, and expand the city's tourism industry. He also proposed an educational program that would offer elementary school textbooks for free.^[15] Chen Chu won the office, and Lo returned to the legislature. In his second reelection campaign, Lo originally stood as a Kaohsiung district incumbent,^[16] but was named one of the TSU's proportional representation candidates.^[17] Listed eighth on a closed party list, Lo was defeated.^[18] Shortly after the loss, he rejoined the Kuomintang.^[19]

After politics, Lo worked at the Xiamen subsidiary of a biotech company and led a property developer.^[20]

In January 2023, Lo was arrested and questioned by prosecutors who alleged that he recruited retired admiral Hsia Fu-hsiang (夏復翔) and others into a mainland Chinese spy ring. A court in Kaohsiung released him on cash bail despite the investigators' request that he remain in custody.^[20] The Supreme Court acquitted Lo in October 2024.^[21]