US embassy cable - 97TAIPEI4246

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 06 TAIPEI 004246 
 
 
E.O. 12958: 9/5/02 
TAGS: PGOV, PINR, TW 
SUBJECT: TAIWAN'S NEW CABINET -- BIO INFORMATION 
 
REF: TAIPEI 4016 
 
 
1.  CLASSIFIED BY LAUREN MORIARTY, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, 
AIT/T.  REASON: 1.5 (D). 
 
2.  (U) BEGIN INTRODUCTION:   AS REPORTED REFTEL, THE 
15TH KMT CENTRAL STANDING COMMITTEE ON AUGUST 28 
APPROVED THE APPOINTMENTS OF A SLIGHTLY RESHUFFLED 
CABINET UNDER INCOMING PREMIER VINCENT SIEW.  SIEW AND 
HIS CABINET WERE SWORN IN ON SEPTEMBER 1.  SIEW'S 
FORTY-MEMBER CABINET INCLUDES 12 INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE 
EITHER NEW FACES ENTIRELY OR HAVE SWITCHED POSITIONS. 
BELOW WE PROVIDE BIO INFORMATION ON THOSE 12 
INDIVIDUALS.  END INTRODUCTION. 
 
 
PREMIER:  VINCENT SIEW 
---------------------- 
 
3. (U)  VINCENT SIEW (HSIAO WAN-CHANG) WAS BORN IN 1939 
IN CHIAYI CITY AND IS MARRIED TO SUSAN CHU.  THEY HAVE 
THREE DAUGHTERS.  SIEW RECEIVED A  BACHELOR OF ARTS AND 
A MASTER'S DEGREE IN FOREIGN RELATIONS FROM NATIONAL 
CHENGCHI UNIVERSITY, TAIPEI.  (HE GRADUATED FIRST IN 
HIS UNDERGRADUATE CLASS.)  A FORMER MEMBER OF TAIWAN'S 
FOREIGN SERVICE, SIEW SERVED AS VICE-CONSUL (1968-1969) 
AND CONSUL (1969-1972) IN KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, AND 
SECTION CHIEF AT THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (MOFA) 
EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT (1972). 
 
4.  (C) MOVING TO THE ECONOMIC SPHERE, SIEW THEN SERVED 
AS DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND SUBSEQUENTLY DIRECTOR OF THE 
FOURTH (BILATERAL) DIVISION OF THE BOARD OF FOREIGN 
TRADE (BOFT) IN  THE MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS 
(MOEA) (1972-1977).  HE WAS PROMOTED TO DEPUTY 
DIRECTOR-GENERAL AT THE BOFT (1977-1982) AND LATER TO 
DIRECTOR-GENERAL (1982-1988).  IN 1988, HE BECAME VICE- 
CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL FOR ECONOMIC PLANNING AND 
DEVELOPMENT (CEPD), AND, IN 1989, HE WAS MADE DIRECTOR 
OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT OF THE KMT 
CENTRAL COMMITTEE.  IN 1990, SIEW WAS APPOINTED 
MINISTER OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS, A POST HE HELD UNTIL 
1994.   IN 1993, HE WAS MADE CONCURRENT CHAIRMAN OF THE 
CEPD.  SIEW'S PEERS AND SUBORDINATES IN ECONOMIC 
CIRCLES ALL SEE HIM AS SOMEONE WHO ROSE THROUGH THE 
RANKS BECAUSE OF HIS INTELLIGENCE, HIS TECHNICAL 
ABILITY, AND HIS HARD WORK.  OVER YEARS OF DEALING WITH 
U.S. NEGOTIATORS ON MANY THORNY BILATERAL TRADE ISSUES, 
HE EARNED A REPUTATION AS A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR 
ECONOMIC LIBERALIZATION. 
 
5.  (U)  IN 1994, SIEW LEFT THESE ECONOMIC POSTS TO 
BECOME CHAIRMAN OF THE EXECUTIVE YUAN'S MAINLAND 
AFFAIRS COUNCIL (MAC).  IN 1995, SIEW -- AT THE URGING 
OF PRESIDENT LEE -- STEPPED DOWN FROM THE MAC TO RUN 
FOR THE LEGISLATIVE YUAN (LY) SEAT FROM CHIAYI CITY. 
SIEW DEFEATED THE INCUMBENT DPP CANDIDATE.  WHILE 
SERVING IN THE LY, SIEW MANAGED PRESIDENT LEE'S 
SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN IN THE MARCH, 1996, PRESIDENTIAL 
ELECTION. 
 
6.  (C) SIEW HAS PROVEN AN ABLE AND ACTIVE LEGISLATOR, 
WELL-RESPECTED BY HIS PEERS.  HE TOOK THE LEAD IN 
HELPING TO FORM A NON-PARTISAN CAUCUS WITHIN THE LY 
AIMED AT PROMOTING ECONOMIC LIBERALIZATION.  THIS 
CAUCUS IN TURN ENSURED LY PASSAGE OF A WHOLE RAFT OF 
NECESSARY ECONOMIC LEGISLATION.  PRESIDENT LEE ALSO 
TURNED TO SIEW TO SPEARHEAD THE RULING PARTY'S EFFORTS 
AT LAST DECEMBER'S NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE 
(NDC), A MULTI-PARTISAN MEETING WHICH HELPED FORGE 
ISLAND-WIDE CONSENSUS ON ECONOMIC POLICY AND ON CROSS- 
STRAIT RELATIONS.  THE TWO LARGEST PARTIES -- THE KMT 
AND THE DPP -- ALSO REACHED AGREEMENT AT THAT TIME ON 
PROPOSALS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM.  SIEW PLAYED A KEY 
ROLE IN THE INTER-PARTY NEGOTIATIONS THAT ULTIMATELY 
LED TO THE JULY 1997 ADOPTION OF A PACKAGE OF 
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS BASED ON THE NDC AGREEMENTS. 
 
7.  (C) SIEW HAS REPRESENTED TAIWAN AT APEC LEADERS' 
CONFERENCES, WHERE HE RUBBED ELBOWS WITH PRESIDENTS AND 
PRIME MINISTERS.  NEVERTHELESS, SIEW IS CONSIDERED BY 
MOST PEOPLE HERE TO BE A RELATIVELY HUMBLE MAN.  IN 
CONTRAST TO OUTGOING PREMIER LIEN CHAN, WHOSE FATHER 
WAS A FORMER INTERIOR MINISTER, SIEW COMES FROM MODEST 
ORIGINS: HIS PARENTS WORKED IN THE FIELDS OUTSIDE 
CHIAYI.  PERHAPS TO REINFORCE THIS IMAGE, SIEW'S STAFF 
ANNOUNCED AS HE WAS TAKING OFFICE THAT THE NEW PREMIER 
WOULD DO WITHOUT THE POLICE ESCORTS THAT HIS 
PREDECESSOR HAD USED, FREQUENTLY TO THE CONSTERNATION 
OF INCENSED DRIVERS WAVED ASIDE BY THE ESCORT.  (SIEW 
REPORTEDLY WAS UPSET THAT HIS STAFF APPEARED TO BE 
TRYING TO MAKE LIEN CHAN LOOK BAD AND TOLD THEM TO PUT 
A LID ON COMMENTS THAT MIGHT PUT A BAD LIGHT ON HIS 
PREDECESSOR -- WHO REMAINS THE VICE PRESIDENT AND 
PRESIDENT LEE'S HEIR APPARENT WITHIN THE KMT.)  SIEW 
ALSO HAS A REPUTATION FOR PROBITY AND A STRONG GRASP OF 
ECONOMIC ISSUES.  OBSERVERS HERE ATTRIBUTE HIS SUCCESS 
WITHIN BOTH THE BUREAUCRACY AND THE LEGISLATURE TO HIS 
ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE PERSISTENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY 
WITHOUT ALIENATING HIS INTERLOCUTORS. 
 
 
VICE PREMIER:  JOHN CHANG 
------------------------- 
 
8. (U) JOHN H. CHANG (CHANG HSIAO-YEN) WAS BORN IN 1941 
IN JIANGXI PROVINCE OF MAINLAND CHINA.  CHANG RECEIVED 
A BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE FROM SOOCHOW UNIVERSITY, 
TAIPEI, AND STUDIED AT THE BRUSSELS LIBERAL UNIVERSITY, 
1970-1971.  IN 1976, HE EARNED A MASTERS DEGREE FROM 
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY. 
 
9.  (U) CHANG PASSED TAIWAN'S CIVIL SERVICE EXAM IN 
1968 AND ENTERED THE FOREIGN SERVICE.  AFTER JOINING 
THE FOREIGN SERVICE, HE SERVED AS A STAFF MEMBER OF THE 
MOFA EUROPEAN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT (1971-1972); SECRETARY 
TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE VICE FOREIGN MINISTER (1972- 
1973); THIRD AND THEN SECOND SECRETARY AT THE "ROC" 
EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON, D.C.(1974-1977); CHIEF OF THE 
FIRST (POLITICAL) SECTION, MOFA NORTH AMERICAN AFFAIRS 
DEPARTMENT (1977-1980); DEPUTY DIRECTOR, MOFA NORTH 
AMERICAN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT (1980-1981); DEPUTY 
SECRETARY-GENERAL, THE COORDINATION COUNCIL FOR NORTH 
AMERICAN AFFAIRS (CCNAA), THE NON-GOVERNMENTAL COVER 
OFFICE FOR TAIWAN'S UNOFFICIAL RELATIONS WITH THE 
UNITED STATES, 1981; SECRETARY-GENERAL, CCNAA (1981- 
1982); DIRECTOR, MOFA NORTH AMERICAN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT 
(1982-1986); AND ADMINISTRATIVE VICE FOREIGN MINISTER 
(1986-1989).  IN 1989, CHANG LEFT THE FOREIGN MINISTRY 
TO BECOME DIRECTOR, KMT CENTRAL COMMITTEE OVERSEAS 
AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT (1989-1990).  HE RETURNED TO MOFA TO 
SERVE AS POLITICAL VICE FOREIGN MINISTER (1990-1993), 
AND SUBSEQUENTLY WAS NAMED CHAIRMAN OF THE OVERSEAS 
CHINESE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, A CABINET-LEVEL POSITION 
(1993-1996).  CHANG HAS ALSO SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE 
KMT CENTRAL COMMITTEE SINCE 1988 AND AS A MEMBER OF THE 
KMT CENTRAL STANDING COMMITTEE SINCE 1996.  IN 1996, 
CHANG WAS ELECTED TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY (NA), 
TAIWAN'S CONSTITUTION-AMENDING BODY.  HE IS MARRIED TO 
HELEN HUANG, AND THEY HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS AND ONE SON. 
 
10.  (C) ALTHOUGH AN ETHNIC MAINLANDER, CHANG IS WELL- 
LIKED BY ETHNIC TAIWANESE (INCLUDING, REPORTEDLY, 
PRESIDENT LEE).  AN ILLEGITIMATE SON OF THE LATE 
PRESIDENT CHIANG CHING-KUO, CHANG WAS RAISED IN RATHER 
HUMBLE CIRCUMSTANCES -- AMONG ETHNIC TAIWANESE 
PLAYMATES -- OUTSIDE OF TAIPEI.  (HE REPORTEDLY IS AS 
FLUENT IN TAIWANESE AS HE IS IN MANDARIN.)  IN RECENT 
YEARS, CHANG HAS PROVEN LOYAL TO -- AND A VALUABLE 
ASSET FOR -- THE KMT OF LEE TENG-HUI.  DURING THE 1995 
LY ELECTION CAMPAIGN, CHANG CAMPAIGNED VIGOROUSLY FOR 
KMT CANDIDATES IN TAIWAN'S MAINLANDER-DOMINATED 
MILITARY VILLAGES.  GIVEN THE WIDE RESPECT IN THE 
VILLAGES FOR CHANG, HIS EFFORTS HELPED KEEP THE KMT'S 
LOSSES THERE TO A MINIMUM.  CHANG ALSO PROVED ONE OF 
THE MOST POPULAR VOTE-GETTERS FOR THE KMT IN THE 1996 
NA ELECTION. 
 
11.  (C) IN LIGHT OF UNRELENTING PRESSURE FROM BEIJING, 
CHANG FACED CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULTIES AS FOREIGN 
MINISTER.  SOUTH AFRICA -- THE LAST SIGNIFICANT COUNTRY 
TO MAINTAIN RELATIONS WITH TAIWAN -- ANNOUNCED DURING 
HIS WATCH THAT IT WOULD SWITCH ALLEGIANCE TO BEIJING. 
(CHANG AT ONE POINT TERMED THE JOB OF TAIWAN'S FOREIGN 
MINISTER THE MOST DIFFICULT ONE IN THE WORLD.)  STILL, 
CHANG OBVIOUSLY DID HIS BEST TO IMPLEMENT TAIWAN'S 
"PRAGMATIC" DIPLOMACY:  HE REPEATEDLY VISITED TAIWAN'S 
FEW REMAINING DIPLOMATIC ALLIES AND ALSO VISITED A 
NUMBER OF OTHER COUNTRIES IN AN ATTEMPT TO RAISE 
TAIWAN'S INTERNATIONAL PROFILE.  THESE ENTHUSIASTIC AND 
WHOLE-HEARTED ATTEMPTS TO PROMOTE "PRAGMATIC" DIPLOMACY 
STOOD IN SHARP CONTRAST TO THE MORE ALOOF OPERATING 
STYLE OF HIS PREDECESSOR, FRED CHIEN. 
ORGANIZATIONALLY, CHANG'S TENURE AS FOREIGN MINISTER 
WAS ALSO NOTEWORTHY FOR HIS ATTEMPTS TO BOOST THE 
STATUS OF WOMEN OFFICERS IN TAIWAN'S FOREIGN SERVICE; 
HE ELIMINATED QUOTAS IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE ENTERING 
CLASSES, THEREBY INCREASING THE PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN PER 
CLASS FROM 15 PERCENT TO MORE THAN HALF.  HE ALSO 
APPOINTED TAIWAN'S FIRST FEMALE AMBASSADOR. (KATHERINE 
CHANG -- THE HEAD OF TECRO'S SEATTLE OFFICE -- HAS BEEN 
ASSIGNED AS AMBASSADOR TO THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN.) 
 
 
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS:  JASON HU 
-------------------------------------- 
 
12. (U)  JASON HU (HU CHIH-CHIANG) WAS BORN IN 1948 IN 
JILIN PROVINCE IN MAINLAND CHINA.  HE RECEIVED AN LL.B. 
IN FOREIGN RELATIONS FROM NATIONAL CHENGCHI UNIVERSITY, 
TAIPEI (1970) AND A MASTER OF SOCIAL SCIENCE FROM THE 
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON (1978) AND A PH. D. FROM 
OXFORD UNIVERSITY (1984).  HE SERVED AS A RESEARCH 
FELLOW AT ST. ANTHONY'S COLLEGE, OXFORD UNIVERSITY, IN 
1985, AND AS ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR, 
ACADEMIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE, NATIONAL SUN YAT-SEN 
UNIVERSITY, KAOHSIUNG (1986-1990).  HE HAS BEEN 
SECRETARY-GENERAL, "ROC" CHAPTER, WORLD LEAGUE FOR 
FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY (1989-1991) AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR 
OF THE FIRST BUREAU OF THE PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE AND 
ENGLISH INTERPRETER FOR PRESIDENT LEE TENG-HUI (1991). 
HE SERVED AS GOVERNMENT INFORMATION OFFICE DIRECTOR- 
GENERAL (AND OFFICIAL SPOKESMAN) FROM 1991 TO 1996 AND 
TECRO WASHINGTON REPRESENTATIVE (1996-1997).  HE WAS 
ELECTED A NATIONAL ASSEMBLY (NA) MEMBER FROM TAICHUNG 
CITY IN 1996, RECEIVING THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF VOTES OF 
ANY KMT CANDIDATE IN THE NA ELECTION.  HE HAS ALSO 
SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE KMT CENTRAL COMMITTEE SINCE 
1993. 
 
13.  (C) AFFABLE AND GREGARIOUS, HU IS WIDELY CREDITED 
HERE WITH HAVING HELPED STABILIZE TAIPEI'S RELATIONS 
WITH WASHINGTON.  (EVEN THE PRESIDENCY IMPLICITLY 
ADMITS NOW THAT HU'S PREDECESSOR IN THE POSITION AS 
TECRO WASHINGTON HEAD, BENJAMIN LU, WAS LESS THAN 
SUCCESSFUL IN HANDLING TAIWAN'S ALL-IMPORTANT 
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE U.S.)   HU TAKES ON THE FOREIGN 
MINISTRY NOT ONLY WITH A GRASP OF THE U.S. RELATIONSHIP 
BUT ALSO WITH THE GOOD-WILL OF TAIWAN'S HYPER-ACTIVE 
PRESS AND A SOLID UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISLAND'S ELECTED 
POLITICS. 
 
 
MONGOLIAN AND TIBETAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION (MTAC) 
CHAIRMAN: KAO KONG-LIAN 
----------------------- 
 
14. (U)  KAO KOONG-LIEN (KAO KUNG-LIEN) WAS BORN IN 
FUJIAN PROVINCE IN 1946 AND RECEIVED AN MBA FROM 
NATIONAL CHENGCHI UNIVERSITY, TAIPEI, IN 1969 AND A 
PH.D. FROM LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY IN 1975.  HE 
PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS PROFESSOR AND CHAIRMAN, DEPARTMENT 
OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, SOOCHOW UNIVERSITY, TAIPEI 
(1976-1981); DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, EXECUTIVE YUAN 
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION COMMISSION (RDEC) 
(1981-1983); VICE CHAIRMAN, RDEC (1983-1991); AND 
MAINLAND AFFAIRS COUNCIL (MAC) VICE CHAIRMAN AND 
SPOKESMAN (1991-1997). 
 
15.  (C) AS ONE OF THREE MAC VICE CHAIRMEN, KAO FOCUSED 
HIS EFFORTS MAINLY ON ECONOMIC RELATIONS ACROSS THE 
TAIWAN STRAIT.  WE FOUND HIM A WILLING AND FRANK 
INTERLOCUTOR.  THE MONGOLIAN AND TIBETAN COMMISSION 
(MTAC) IS A CONTROVERSIAL LEFTOVER FROM THE DAYS WHEN 
THE NATIONALISTS CONTROLLED ALL OF MAINLAND CHINA. 
(THE DPP HOLDS THAT THE MTAC IS AN ANACHRONISM THAT 
SHOULD BE SCRAPPED.) 
 
 
MINISTER W/O PORTFOLIO:  LIN FENG-CHENG 
--------------------------------------- 
 
16.  (U)  LIN FENG-CHENG WAS BORN IN TAIPEI COUNTY IN 
1940, AND RECEIVED AN LL.B. FROM  NATIONAL CHUNGHSING 
UNIVERSITY LAW COLLEGE, TAIPEI, IN 1963. HE PREVIOUSLY 
SERVED AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE CHINA YOUTH CORPS 
COMMITTEE IN HUALIEN AND TAOYUAN; TAIPEI COUNTY CIVIL 
AFFAIRS BUREAU DIRECTOR, 1973-1974; TAIPEI COUNTY 
SOCIAL AFFAIRS BUREAU DIRECTOR, 1974-1976; TAIPEI 
COUNTY GOVERNMENT CHIEF SECRETARY, 1976-1978; TAIPEI 
COUNTY CIVIL AFFAIRS BUREAU DIRECTOR, 1978-1980; KMT 
TAINAN COUNTY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, 1980-1981; TAIPEI 
COUNTY MAGISTRATE, 1981-1989; TAIWAN PROVINCIAL 
GOVERNMENT (TPG) CIVIL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT COMMISSIONER, 
1990-1992; KMT TAIWAN PROVINCIAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, 
1992-1993; TPG SECRETARY-GENERAL 1993-1994; POLITICAL 
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF TAIWAN, 1994-1996; AND MINISTER 
OF INTERIOR, 1996-1997. LIN HAS ALSO SERVED AS A MEMBER 
OF THE KMT CENTRAL COMMITTEE SINCE 1988 AND A MEMBER OF 
THE KMT CENTRAL STANDING COMMITTEE SINCE 1993. HE HAS 
ONE SON AND TWO DAUGHTERS.  ONE OF HIS DAUGHTERS 
MARRIED A CHINESE-AMERICAN ATTORNEY IN HAWAII 1996. 
 
17.  (C) LIN STEPPED DOWN AS INTERIOR MINISTER IN MAY, 
1997, IN ORDER TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INABILITY 
OF THE POLICE TO SOLVE A SERIES OF HIGH-PROFILE MURDERS 
AND SEVERAL SPECTACULAR UNSOLVED CRIMINAL CASES.  LIN 
IS SAID TO BE CLOSE BOTH TO PRESIDENT LEE TENG-HUI AND 
TO TAIWAN PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR JAMES SOONG.  GIVEN HIS 
STRONG BASE IN TAIPEI COUNTY AND HIS YEARS OF 
EXPERIENCE, LIN REMAINS A POWERFUL FIGURE IN HIS OWN 
RIGHT IN TAIWAN POLITICS. 
 
 
MINISTER W/O PORTFOLIO:  HUANG TA-CHOU 
-------------------------------------- 
 
18.  (U)  HUANG TA-CHOU WAS BORN IN 1936 IN TAINAN 
COUNTY.  HE RECEIVED B.S. (1960) AND M.S. (1962) 
DEGREES IN AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS FROM NATIONAL TAIWAN 
UNIVERSITY (NTU), AS WELL AS A PH.D. (1971) IN RURAL 
DEVELOPMENT FROM CORNELL UNIVERSITY.  HUANG SERVED AS 
AN INSTRUCTOR, NTU (1966-1968); ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, 
NTU (1971-1976); SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW, EAST-WEST 
CENTER, HAWAII (1976-1978); PROFESSOR, NTU (1976); 
COUNSELOR, EXECUTIVE YUAN COUNCIL FOR ECONOMIC PLANNING 
AND DEVELOPMENT (CEPD) (1977-1978); ADVISOR TO TAIWAN 
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT (TPG) (1979-1981); EXECUTIVE 
SECRETARY, EXECUTIVE YUAN RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND 
EVALUATION COMMISSION (1979-1981); TPG DEPUTY 
SECRETARY-GENERAL (1981-1984); DEAN, NTU GENERAL 
AFFAIRS (1984-1987); TAIPEI CITY GOVERNMENT SECRETARY- 
GENERAL (1987-1990); EISENHOWER FELLOW IN THE U.S. 
1989; TAIPEI CITY (NON-ELECTED) MAYOR (1990-1994); 
COUNCIL MEMBER, CEPD 1995-1996; AND EY RESEARCH, 
DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION COMMISSION CHAIRMAN (1996- 
1997). 
 
19.  (C) WHILE AT CORNELL, HUANG WAS A FELLOW STUDENT 
AND CLOSE FRIEND OF PRESIDENT LEE. (LEE'S ENEMIES 
ASSERT -- WITHOUT ANY PROOF THAT WE ARE AWARE OF -- 
THAT HUANG HELPED THE FUTURE PRESIDENT WRITE HIS AWARD- 
WINNING DISSERTATION.)  HUANG -- WHO MUMBLES BADLY AS A 
PUBLIC SPEAKER AND WHOSE ADMINISTRATION WAS WRACKED BY 
CHARGES OF CORRUPTION AND INCOMPETENCE -- LOST THE 1994 
MAYORAL ELECTION TO DPP CANDIDATE CHEN SHUI-BIAN, 
COMING IN THIRD IN A THREE CANDIDATE RACE;  HUANG HAS 
SINCE STAYED OUT OF THE LIMELIGHT.  HUANG HAS SERVED AS 
A MEMBER OF THE KMT CENTRAL COMMITTEE SINCE 1988 AND A 
MEMBER OF THE KMT CENTRAL STANDING COMMITTEE SINCE 
1993. 
 
 
MINISTER W/O PORTFOLIO:  CHEN CHIEN-MIN 
--------------------------------------- 
 
20.  (U)  CHEN CHIEN-MIN WAS BORN IN FUJIAN PROVINCE IN 
1942 AND RECEIVED AN LL.B. FROM NATIONAL TAIWAN 
UNIVERSITY, TAIPEI, AND AN LL.M. FROM CHINESE CULTURE 
UNIVERSITY, TAIPEI.  HE PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS JUDGE AND 
COURT SUPERINTENDENT, TAIPEI DISTRICT COURT; JUDGE, 
TAIWAN HIGH COURT; SUPERINTENDENT, KINMEN, HUALIEN, 
CHIAYI, AND TAINAN DISTRICT COURTS; COUNSELOR, JUDICIAL 
YUAN; ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, TAMKANG UNIVERSITY, TAIPEI; 
AND KMT AT-LARGE LEGISLATOR, 1992-1997. 
 
 
MINISTER W/O PORTFOLIO:  CHAN HUO-SHENG 
---------------------------------------- 
 
21.  (U)  CHAN HUO-SHENG WAS BORN IN TAIWAN 1949.  HE 
RECEIVED HIS B.A. IN SOCIOLOGY FROM NATIONAL TAIWAN 
UNIVERSITY, TAIPEI.  HE LATER STUDIED AT OXFORD 
UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF WALES, WHERE HE EARNED 
HIS PH.D. IN SOCIAL WELFARE.  HE PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS 
PROFESSOR AND CHAIRMAN OF THE NTU SOCIAL SCIENCE 
DEPARTMENT AND NTU SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH INSTITUTE 
DIRECTOR BEFORE HE WAS APPOINTED VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE 
LABOR AFFAIRS COUNCIL IN 1995.  HE RESIGNED AND 
RETURNED TO TEACH AT NTU IN MAY OF THIS YEAR. 
 
 
EXECUTIVE YUAN SECRETARY-GENERAL:  CHANG YU-HUI 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
 22. (U)  CHANG YU-HUI WAS BORN IN TAIWAN IN 1941 AND 
RECEIVED A B.ED. FROM NATIONAL TAIWAN NORMAL UNIVERSITY 
IN TAIPEI AND A BACHELOR OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION FROM 
TAMKANG UNIVERSITY IN TAIPEI.  HE LATER STUDIED SOCIAL 
SCIENCE AT MADRID UNIVERSITY, SPAIN.  CHANG JOINED THE 
MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS AS A STAFF MEMBER 1975. 
LATER, HE BECAME CHIEF OF THE NATIONAL CORPORATION 
COMMISSION'S PERSONNEL OFFICE; DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND 
ADVISOR OF THE TAIWAN SUGAR CORPORATION; MOEA 
COUNSELOR; TAIWAN ALUMINUM CORPORATION PRESIDENT; 
CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL CORPORATION COMMISSION ADVISOR; AND 
TAIWAN SUGAR CORPORATION PRESIDENT (1992-1995) AND 
CHAIRMAN (1995-1997).  CHANG HAS WORKED WITH VINCENT 
SIEW AT MOEA AND REPORTEDLY IS A CLOSE FRIEND OF THE 
NEW PREMIER. 
 
 
CENTRAL PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION DIRECTOR-GENERAL:  WEI 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
CHI-LIN 
------- 
 
23.  (U) WEI CHI-LIN WAS BORN IN TAIWAN IN 1947 AND 
RECEIVED A B.A. IN ECONOMICS FROM NATIONAL TAIWAN 
UNIVERSITY, AN MBA FROM LONDON UNIVERSITY, ENGLAND, AND 
A PH.D. IN THE HUMANITIES FROM PARIS UNIVERSITY.  HE 
PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS DEPUTY CHIEF FOR RESEARCH AT THE 
CHINA INSTITUTE FOR ECONOMIC RESEARCH IN TAIPEI, AND 
PROFESSOR AND CHAIRMAN OF THE NTU INTERNATIONAL TRADE 
DEPARTMENT.  WHEN APPOINTED TO HIS CURRENT POSITION, HE 
WAS A PROFESSOR AT NTU BUSINESS MANAGEMENT RESEARCH 
INSTITUTE AND CHAIRMAN OF THE ASIAN-PACIFIC ENTERPRISE 
MANAGEMENT RESEARCH ASSOCIATION, AS WELL AS EXECUTIVE 
SECRETARY OF A NON-PARTISAN CAUCUS OF LEGISLATIVE YUAN 
MEMBERS DEDICATED TO ENSURING ADOPTION OF NECESSARY 
ECONOMIC LEGISLATION.  HE HAS ALSO BEEN AN ADVISOR TO 
THE DPP. 
 
 
NATIONAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATION DIRECTOR-GENERAL: CHAN 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
CHI-HSIEN 
--------- 
 
24.  (U)  CHAN CHI-HSIEN WAS BORN IN CHANGHUA COUNTY IN 
1949, AND EARNED HIS BACHELOR OF MEDICINE DEGREE FROM 
CHUNG SHAN MEDICAL COLLEGE, TAICHUNG.   HE WENT TO THE 
U.S. IN 1975 FOR ADVANCED STUDIES AND PRACTICED 
MEDICINE THERE.  HE RETURNED TO TAIWAN TO SERVE AS 
DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF CHI MEI HOSPITAL IN 1988 IN 
TAINAN AND LATER WAS PROMOTED TO SUPERINTENDENT. 
 
25.  (C) DR. CHAN COMES FROM AN OPPOSITION POLITICAL 
FAMILY -- HIS MOTHER, CHAN CHEN AI-CHU, IS A FORMER 
(INDEPENDENT) COUNCIL MEMBER IN CHANGHUA COUNTY  AND 
HIS BROTHER, CHAN CHI-CHAO, WAS MAYOR OF YUANLIN TOWN 
FOR NINE YEARS.  REPORTEDLY, THE KMT MADE A CONSCIOUS 
DECISION TO LEAVE SOMEONE NOT CLOSELY AFFILIATED WITH 
THE RULING PARTY IN CHARGE OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH 
ADMINISTRATION:  THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM 
IS IN SERIOUS FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY AND WILL BE THE 
SUBJECT OF MUCH DEBATE WITHIN THE LY OVER THE COMING 
MONTHS. 
 
26.  (C) CHAN RENOUNCED HIS U.S. CITIZENSHIP IN ORDER 
TO ACCEPT THE POST OF NATIONAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATION 
DIRECTOR GENERAL, A DECISION THAT HE TOLD AIT WAS VERY 
DIFFICULT FOR HIM PERSONALLY TO MAKE. 
 
 
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION COMMISSION 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
CHAIRMAN:  YUNG CHAUR-SHIN 
-------------------------- 
 
27.  (U) YUNG CHAUR-SHIN (YANG CHAO-HSIANG) WAS BORN IN 
TAIWAN IN 1946.  HE EARNED HIS B.A. FROM NATIONAL 
TAIWAN NORMAL UNIVERSITY (NTNU), TAIPEI, IN 1970, AN 
M.A. FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA IN 1975, AND  A 
PH.D. FROM PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY IN 1978.  HE 
PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF 
ARKANSAS (1978-1980); ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, NTNU (1980- 
1982); PROFESSOR AND CHAIRMAN, NTNU INDUSTRIAL ARTS 
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT (1982-1986); DIRECTOR, MINISTRY OF 
EDUCATION TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT 
(1986-1989); ADMINISTRATIVE VICE MINISTER OF EDUCATION 
(1989-1994); AND POLITICAL VICE MINISTER OF EDUCATION 
(1994-1997).  HE WAS ELECTED A MEMBER OF THE KMT 
CENTRAL COMMITTEE IN AUGUST 1997. 
 
 
JOHNSON