Air force chief of staff who became Chen Shui-bian’s first premier and resigned after 139 days
Born in Taicang, Jiangsu, in 1932, he entered the air force preparatory school at twelve and graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1952. Starting as a fighter pilot, he served as attaché in Washington and South Africa, superintendent of the Air Force Academy and commander-in-chief of the air force, becoming chief of the general staff in 1998. As defence minister from 1999 he shaped the National Defense Law and the ministry’s organisation law, bringing the military command under the defence ministry. Nominated by President Chen Shui-bian in 2000, he became premier of the first government after the change of power with his KMT membership suspended, but resigned after five months in a clash with the DPP over halting the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant. He left the KMT in 2001 and later founded and led the Taiwan Future Development Association.
Activities and affiliations
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1953–1998
Republic of China state institutionsAir force officer; Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force
Military command -
1998–1999
Republic of China state institutionsChief of the General Staff
Military command -
1999–2000
Republic of China state institutionsMinister of National Defense
Government and administration -
2000
Republic of China state institutionsPresident of the Executive YuanHeads of state, government and party of ChinaMain
Political and party leadership -
–2001
Political and party leadership
Career Timeline
- 1950Graduated from the Air Force Preparatory School
- 1952Graduated from the Air Force Academy
- 1953–1960Fighter pilot
- 1972–1975Assistant air attaché, Washington
- 1979–1982Armed forces attaché, South Africa
- 1985Superintendent of the Air Force Academy
- 1992–1995Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force
- 1998–1999Chief of the General Staff
- 1999–2000Minister of National Defense
- 2000.05.20–10.06President of the Executive Yuan
- 2001Left the Kuomintang
- 2007.09.15Founded the Taiwan Future Development Association