In 1949, Lei Chen, Hu Shih, Wang Shijie, and Han Lih-wu founded the Free China Journal in Shanghai.
The publication was initially friendly to Chiang Kai-shek and the KMT, but comments criticizing them gradually began to appear.
On May 4, 1960, Lei Chen announced 'why we desperately need a strong opposition' (我們為什麼迫切需要一個強有力的反對黨), strongly insisting on the opposition's participation in elections to keep the ruling party in check.
On May 18, non-KMT figures held an election improvement review meeting to demand the creation of a new political party and the realization of fair elections and true democracy.
[1] On September 4, 1960, some members of the party were imprisoned after a military trial and sentenced to 10 years in prison.