Political scientist turned premier and vice-president, the KMT chairman who met Hu Jintao in 2005
Born in Xi’an in 1936, the only son of the KMT official Lien Chen-tung of a prominent Tainan family, he was the grandson of the historian Lien Heng, author of The General History of Taiwan. He graduated from National Taiwan University, joined the KMT and, after a doctorate in political science at the University of Chicago in 1965, taught in the United States and at National Taiwan University. Having served as minister of transportation, foreign minister and governor of Taiwan Province, he was premier from 1993 to 1997, introducing National Health Insurance, and was elected vice-president in 1996. He lost the presidential elections of 2000 and 2004 to Chen Shui-bian. As KMT chairman from 2000 to 2005 he met Hu Jintao in 2005, the first meeting of KMT and CCP leaders since the civil war.
Also known as: Lian Zhan
Activities and affiliations
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1957–
Political and party leadership
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1975–1976
Republic of China state institutionsAmbassador to El Salvador
Diplomacy and international organization -
1981–1988
Republic of China state institutionsMinister of Transportation and Communications; Vice Premier
Government and administration -
1988–1990
Republic of China state institutionsMinister of Foreign Affairs
Diplomacy and international organization -
1990–1993
Republic of China state institutionsGovernor of Taiwan Province
Government and administration -
1993–1997
Republic of China state institutionsPresident of the Executive YuanHeads of state, government and party of ChinaMain
Political and party leadership -
1996–2000
Republic of China state institutionsVice President
Government and administration -
2000–2005
KuomintangChairman of the Kuomintang
Political and party leadership
Career Timeline
- 1946Moved to Taiwan
- 1957Graduated in political science from National Taiwan University; joined the Kuomintang
- 1965Ph.D. in political science, University of Chicago
- 1966–1968Assistant professor at Wisconsin and Connecticut
- 1969–1975Professor and department head of political science, National Taiwan University
- 1975–1976Ambassador to El Salvador
- 1981–1987Minister of Transportation and Communications
- 1987–1988Vice Premier
- 1988–1990Minister of Foreign Affairs
- 1990–1993Governor of Taiwan Province
- 1993.02.27–1997.09.01President of the Executive Yuan
- 1996–2000Vice President
- 2000–2005Chairman of the Kuomintang
- 2005.04.29Met Hu Jintao in Beijing