Former Taiwan President&nbsp;Lee&nbsp;Teng-hui, dubbed "Mr. Democracy" for ending autocratic rule in favour of free elections, was cremated in a private ceremony on Friday, after his remains were taken on a symbolic last trip around Taipei.

Doctors wearing yellow memorial ribbons gathered at a hospital in northern Taipei as the body of&nbsp;Lee, a committed Christian who died last month at 97, was driven downtown, past the presidential office and on to the Chi-Nan Presbyterian Church.

<img alt="A hearse with former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui's casket makes its way to a private cremation in Taipei, Taiwan" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a43a837c-7f98-4a81-8314-8f953b203ca8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Oil%20spill%20%284%29.jpg" />

A hearse with former Taiwan President&nbsp;Lee&nbsp;Teng-hui's casket makes its way to a private cremation in Taipei, Taiwan

Senior government officials, including top security official Wellington Koo, stood outside the presidential office in tribute to&nbsp;Lee&nbsp;as the hearse passed by.

"Thank you, former President&nbsp;Lee," President Tsai Ing-wen wrote on her Facebook page. "We will continue to protect democratic Taiwan."

Family and friends attended a service at the church before the cremation. A formal state funeral is still being organised, however, and a final resting place has yet to be announced.

Lee, who was president from 1988 to 2000, championed Taiwan's separate identity from China, which claims the island as its own territory, angering Beijing.

At a memorial hall near the presidential office, people have been leaving messages of condolence for&nbsp;Lee, though not everyone remembered him fondly.

Police had detained one person for throwing red paint at a picture of&nbsp;Lee&nbsp;at the hall, the presidential office said on Friday.

A message was also left by US&nbsp;Health Secretary Alex Azar, who visited Taipei this week.

"President&nbsp;Lee's democratic legacy will forever propel the US-Taiwan relationship forward," Azar, the highest US&nbsp;official to visit in four decades, wrote on Wednesday before concluding his trip.

Former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui, dubbed "Mr. Democracy" for ending autocratic rule in favour of free elections, was cremated in a private ceremony on Friday, after his remains were taken on a symbolic last trip around Taipei.

Former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui, dubbed "Mr. Democracy" for ending autocratic rule in favour of free elections, was cremated in a private ceremony on Friday, after his remains were taken on a symbolic last trip around Taipei. Doctors wearing yellow memorial ribbons gathered at a hospital in northern Taipei as the body of Lee, a committed Christian who died last month at 97, was driven downtown, past the presidential office and on to the Chi-Nan Presbyterian Church. A hearse with former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui's casket makes its way to a private cremation in Taipei, Taiwan Senior government officials, including top security official Wellington Koo, stood outside the presidential office in tribute to Lee as the hearse passed by. "Thank you, former President Lee," President Tsai Ing-wen wrote on her Facebook page. "We will continue to protect democratic Taiwan." Family and friends attended a service at the church before the cremation. A formal state funeral is still being organised, however, and a final resting place has yet to be announced. Lee, who was president from 1988 to 2000, championed Taiwan's separate identity from China, which claims the island as its own territory, angering Beijing. At a memorial hall near the presidential office, people have been leaving messages of condolence for Lee, though not everyone remembered him fondly. Police had detained one person for throwing red paint at a picture of Lee at the hall, the presidential office said on Friday. A message was also left by US Health Secretary Alex Azar, who visited Taipei this week. "President Lee's democratic legacy will forever propel the US-Taiwan relationship forward," Azar, the highest US official to visit in four decades, wrote on Wednesday before concluding his trip.

Former Taiwanese president Lee Teng-hui cremated after symbolic final tour

Taiwan's founder of democracy - Lee Teng-Hui has passed away. He was the country's first democratically-elected president. China hates Lee even in his death for gifting liberty to Taiwan. WION's Palki Sharma brings you a report on how Lee defied China.

Gravitas: Taiwan's father of democracy no more

Taiwan's former president Lee Teng-hui, who defied China and earned the nickname "Mr Democracy" for the part he played in the island's transition away from authoritarian rule, has died.&nbsp;

He was credited with paving the way for Taiwan to become a modern, free society after decades of one-party dictatorship and became a champion of the island's bid to be treated as a sovereign state internationally.

Lee had been in hospital since February after choking on some food and had a history in recent years of chronic illnesses.

He died on Thursday aged 97, of septic shock and multiple organ failure, Taipei Veterans General Hospital vice president Hwang Shinn-jang told reporters.

Lee's 1988-2000 term in office was marked by growing cross-strait tensions as he pitched himself against Beijing, infuriating Chinese authorities for daring to carve out a separate identity for Taiwan.

Despite being self-ruled since 1949, Taiwan has never formally declared independence from the mainland and Beijing has vowed to react with force if it ever does.&nbsp;

China still regards Taiwan as part of its territory.&nbsp;

Born into a colony&nbsp; 
Lee was born in Taiwan in 1923 and educated in Japan, which at the time ruled the island as a colony.

In 1945 Taiwan was handed back to China, then under the rule of Nationalist Kuomintang (KMT) leader Chiang Kai-shek.&nbsp;

After Chiang lost a civil war to communist forces four years later, he fled to Taiwan to set up a rival government.

Ruling with an iron fist, Chiang instigated a "White Terror" purge of opponents which lasted until his death in 1975.&nbsp;

Lee, a professor of agricultural economics, was introduced to Chiang's son Chiang Ching-kuo in the 1970s and gained his trust.&nbsp;

By 1984 Lee was vice president and four years later was appointed leader following the younger Chiang's death, becoming the island's first Taiwan-born president.

China missiles&nbsp;

Martial law had already been lifted by the younger Chiang in 1987 but it was Lee who drove forward Taiwan's largely peaceful transition into a fully functional democracy.

His government introduced wide-ranging political reforms, including the election of a new parliament and a direct vote for president.&nbsp;

Lee then won Taiwan's first ever public leadership elections in 1996, which he took by a landslide despite threats from Beijing.

China fired ballistic missiles into the Taiwan Strait in a bid to stop voters choosing Lee, prompting the US to send warships to the area.

Once in office, Lee urged local firms to avoid extensive investments in China, promoting a separate cultural identity from the mainland, which in turn branded him a "sinner" and "splittist".

Lee was succeeded by Chen Shui-bian of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in 2000 when the KMT lost for the first time.&nbsp;

Lee's commitment to formally declaring an independent Taiwan only became clear after he stepped down and helped found the Taiwan Solidarity Union which advocates a split from China, a move that prompted the KMT to expel him from the party.&nbsp;

After Ma Ying-jeou of the KMT succeeded Chen in 2008 and oversaw a rapprochement with China, Lee became a vocal critic of the government's Beijing-friendly policies.

He was indicted on corruption charges in 2011 but was acquitted and accused the Ma government of "inventing" offences to persecute him.

Since 2016, Taiwan has been run by president Tsai Ing-wen who is also loathed by Beijing because she views the island as a sovereign state.

In a statement she described Lee as "irreplaceable, and his passing is a tremendous loss to our country".&nbsp;

A spokeswoman for Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office -- the mainland's top body overseeing policy towards the island -- said Taiwan independence was a "dead end".

"The historical trend of national reunification... cannot be stopped by anyone or any forces," said Zhu Fenglian on Thursday.

China's nationalistic state-run Global Times newspaper meanwhile labelled Lee the "godfather of Taiwan secessionism".

"Lee's death is definitely not sad news to most people in the Chinese mainland," the tabloid wrote.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo offered condolences, saying Washington would celebrate Lee by "continuing to strengthen our bond with Taiwan and its vibrant democracy".

Taiwan's former president Lee Teng-hui, who defied China and earned the nickname "Mr Democracy" for the part he played in the island's transition away from authoritarian rule, has died.

Taiwan's former president Lee Teng-hui, who defied China and earned the nickname "Mr Democracy" for the part he played in the island's transition away from authoritarian rule, has died. He was credited with paving the way for Taiwan to become a modern, free society after decades of one-party dictatorship and became a champion of the island's bid to be treated as a sovereign state internationally. Lee had been in hospital since February after choking on some food and had a history in recent years of chronic illnesses. He died on Thursday aged 97, of septic shock and multiple organ failure, Taipei Veterans General Hospital vice president Hwang Shinn-jang told reporters. Lee's 1988-2000 term in office was marked by growing cross-strait tensions as he pitched himself against Beijing, infuriating Chinese authorities for daring to carve out a separate identity for Taiwan. Despite being self-ruled since 1949, Taiwan has never formally declared independence from the mainland and Beijing has vowed to react with force if it ever does. China still regards Taiwan as part of its territory. Born into a colony Lee was born in Taiwan in 1923 and educated in Japan, which at the time ruled the island as a colony. In 1945 Taiwan was handed back to China, then under the rule of Nationalist Kuomintang (KMT) leader Chiang Kai-shek. After Chiang lost a civil war to communist forces four years later, he fled to Taiwan to set up a rival government. Ruling with an iron fist, Chiang instigated a "White Terror" purge of opponents which lasted until his death in 1975. Lee, a professor of agricultural economics, was introduced to Chiang's son Chiang Ching-kuo in the 1970s and gained his trust. By 1984 Lee was vice president and four years later was appointed leader following the younger Chiang's death, becoming the island's first Taiwan-born president. China missiles Martial law had already been lifted by the younger Chiang in 1987 but it was Lee who drove forward Taiwan's largely peaceful transition into a fully functional democracy. His government introduced wide-ranging political reforms, including the election of a new parliament and a direct vote for president. Lee then won Taiwan's first ever public leadership elections in 1996, which he took by a landslide despite threats from Beijing. China fired ballistic missiles into the Taiwan Strait in a bid to stop voters choosing Lee, prompting the US to send warships to the area. Once in office, Lee urged local firms to avoid extensive investments in China, promoting a separate cultural identity from the mainland, which in turn branded him a "sinner" and "splittist". Lee was succeeded by Chen Shui-bian of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in 2000 when the KMT lost for the first time. Lee's commitment to formally declaring an independent Taiwan only became clear after he stepped down and helped found the Taiwan Solidarity Union which advocates a split from China, a move that prompted the KMT to expel him from the party. After Ma Ying-jeou of the KMT succeeded Chen in 2008 and oversaw a rapprochement with China, Lee became a vocal critic of the government's Beijing-friendly policies. He was indicted on corruption charges in 2011 but was acquitted and accused the Ma government of "inventing" offences to persecute him. Since 2016, Taiwan has been run by president Tsai Ing-wen who is also loathed by Beijing because she views the island as a sovereign state. In a statement she described Lee as "irreplaceable, and his passing is a tremendous loss to our country". A spokeswoman for Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office -- the mainland's top body overseeing policy towards the island -- said Taiwan independence was a "dead end". "The historical trend of national reunification... cannot be stopped by anyone or any forces," said Zhu Fenglian on Thursday. China's nationalistic state-run Global Times newspaper meanwhile labelled Lee the "godfather of Taiwan secessionism". "Lee's death is definitely not sad news to most people in the Chinese mainland," the tabloid wrote. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo offered condolences, saying Washington would celebrate Lee by "continuing to strengthen our bond with Taiwan and its vibrant democracy".

Former Taiwan president dubbed 'Mr Democracy' dies aged 97

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Former Taiwanese president Lee Teng-hui cremated after symbolic final tour

Gravitas: Taiwan's father of democracy no more

Former Taiwan president dubbed 'Mr Democracy' dies aged 97

January 13 in history: Flag of Greece is officially adopted by the First National Assembly and more