The author argues that the ratification of international covenants and constitutional interpretations did not have a significant influence on the decline of executions over this period. The factors that did have a role in the decline of executions in Taiwan were the annulment or amendment of laws, changes in criminal procedures, establishment of and additional amendments to guidelines for executions, and two laws that reduced sentences. The author further maintains that the influence of these factors is not permanent and that the absence of executions in 2006 was a unique situation that will not continue, because there are inmates still on death row. This means that executions can resume at any time unless and until the death penalty is abolished. This will occur only when the democratic majority decides that the state must guarantee the ultimate human right, the right to life, which precludes the state from executing people. 2 tables, 40 notes, and 43 references