On these, it's often hard to distinguish between the DPP and KMT.
But its every action suggests that what it really seeks is an independent Taiwan, in part to placate the increasingly powerful DPP opposition party.
An opposition editor, Antonio Chiang, described the DPP as having "a lot of similarity with the Green Party in Germany," especially in its concern for the environment.
The DPP toys with the notion of declaring an independent Taiwan, anathema to both the KMT and the mainland government.
As the recent DPP victories further attest, there is no question that the KMT has been slowly relaxing its authoritarian grip.
But several government officials have made it clear that they don't want to dissolve the DPP with elections looming.
The Interior Ministry launched an investigation into the DPP's action that could result in a warning or an order disbanding the party.
But it is widely seen as a fait accompli that the influential position of Taipei mayor will go to Mr Chen Shui-bien, the lawyer-turned-legislator of the DPP party.
From this brew came victory for 23 DPP candidates, including Mr. Kang.
Official figures aren't available yet, but tallying by the Independence Evening Post, a national daily newspaper, said the DPP garnered 22% of the votes, compared with 16.8% for opposition candidates in 1983.
There has been talk of trying DPP leaders on sedition charges or challenging the party's legality because of its stance, but many observers expect continued restraint.
But DPP officials themselves weren't affected by the crackdown.