Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
97TAIPEI4246
1997-09-09 09:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:  

TAIWAN'S NEW CABINET -- BIO INFORMATION

Tags:  PGOV PINR TW 
pdf how-to read a cable
R 090926Z SEP 97
FM AIT TAIPEI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4421
INFO DIA WASHDC
JICPAC HONOLULU HI
CINCPAC HONOLULU HI
AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 
AMCONSUL HONG KONG 
AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU 
AMEMBASSY MANILA 
AMEMBASSY TOKYO 
AMEMBASSY BEIJING 
AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 
AMEMBASSY SEOUL
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


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