Thomas Liao (22 March 1910 – 9 May 1986) was a Taiwanese independence activist and founding leader of the Republic of Taiwan Provisional Government [zh].

Thomas Liao was born in present-day Xiluo, Yunlin County, on 22 March 1910, to a wealthy Presbyterian family of Hakka descent.

Free China Review reported that Liao tied with three other candidates after one of his votes was invalidated due to the presence of an "ink stain".

[4] George H. Kerr wrote in Formosa Betrayed that the Kuomintang nullified his election because too many Liao ballots were marked with "imperfect calligraphy".

Thus, I have renounced my Taiwanese independence activities and have decided to answer the call from President Chiang's Anti-Communist Union, and hereby pledge to do everything within my power to fight for the great cause of defeating the Communists.

[2][10] Shortly after his return, Liao was named founding director of the graduate school of chemical engineering at the College of Chinese Culture by Chang Ch'i-yun.