Wang Ting-son

Wang was born in Hualien County, Taiwan, on May 8, 1962. His father, Wang Ching-feng, served as the magistrate of Hualien County from 1993 to 2001.^[1][2]

After high school, Wang studied mathematics at Soochow University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in commercial mathematics. He then completed graduate studies in the United States, earning a master's degree and a Ph.D. in international business from George Washington University in 1996.^[3][4] His doctoral dissertation was titled, "An analysis of characteristics and motivations related to Taiwanese manufacturing firms' decisions to invest in China".^[5]

After receiving his doctorate, Wang returned to Taiwan, joining the National Dong Hwa University faculty.^[6]

Wang held several posts within the Kuomintang before he was nominated to contest a by-election scheduled for 27 February 2010,^[7][8] to replace outgoing legislator Fu Kun-chi. Ma Ying-jeou made several appearances at Wang's campaign events,^[9][10] as did King Pu-tsung.^[11] Wang faced Democratic Progressive Party candidate Hsiao Bi-khim and independent Shih Sheng-liang.^[12][13] Five days before the election, Wang led Hsiao by thirteen percentage points,^[14] and eventually defeated her by approximately six thousand votes,^[15] a margin that the Taipei Times considered "narrow" due to Fu Kun-chi's strong influence in Hualien.^[16] The Kuomintang renominated Wang for the 2012 legislative elections,^[17] and he retained the Hualien County district seat contested by DPP candidate Lie Kuen-cheng.^[18] Wang sought reelection to the legislature in 2016, but lost to Hsiao Bi-khim, his political opponent in 2010.^[19]