Mark Chen
Chen Tang-shan Sc.D. |
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File:Voa chinese Chen Tangshan 01Dec09.jpg | |
Secretary-General of the ROC Presidential Office | |
In office 23 March 2008 – 20 May 2008 |
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President | Chen Shui-bian |
Preceded by | Yeh Chu-lan |
Succeeded by | Chan Chun-po |
Secretary-General of National Security Council of the Republic of China | |
In office 6 February 2007 – 27 March 2008 |
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Preceded by | Chiou I-jen |
Succeeded by | Chen Chung-shin (acting) Su Chi |
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China | |
In office 16 April 2004 – 14 January 2006 |
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Preceded by | Eugene Chien |
Succeeded by | James C. F. Huang |
Magistrate of Tainan County | |
In office 20 December 1993 – 20 December 2001 |
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Preceded by | Lee Ya-chiao |
Succeeded by | Su Huan-chih |
Personal details | |
Born | 16 September 1935 (age 88) Tainan Prefecture, Taiwan, Empire of Japan |
Nationality | ![]() |
Political party | Democratic Progressive Party |
Alma mater | National Taiwan University University of Oklahoma Purdue University |
Occupation | Politician |
Profession | Geophysicist |
Chen Tang-shan or Mark Chen (Chinese: 陳唐山; pinyin: Chén Tángshān; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tân Tông-san), born September 16, 1935, in Tainan Prefecture (now part of Tainan City), Taiwan, is a Taiwanese politician, former Secretary-General of the Office of the President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) under ex-President Chen Shui-bian. He was also previously Foreign Minister of the ROC from 2004 to 2006 (the first Democratic Progressive Party member to occupy the position). Before returning to Taiwan, he worked for the Department of Commerce of the federal government of the United States for 19 years.[1]
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Career in Taiwan politics
Chen became part of the Taiwan independence movement while he was completing his post-graduate education in the United States. In 1970, he organized the World United Formosans for Independence. After the establishment of the World Federation of Taiwanese Associations (世界臺灣同鄉會聯合會), Chen Tang-shan became its president from 1979 to 1984.
Because of his political views, Chen was put on a Kuomintang blacklist during this time, and was unable to return to Taiwan. He was eventually allowed to return with the advent of Taiwan's democratization. In 1992, Chen joined the Democratic Progressive Party and was elected a member of the Legislative Yuan. In December 1993, he was nominated the candidate of Tainan County Magistrate by the DPP and was elected. He was reelected again in 1997 with 66% of the vote.
In 2001, Chen returned to the Legislative Yuan as a representative of Tainan County. He became the Republic of China's thirty-second Foreign Minister in 2004. After Frank Hsieh resigned his Premiership and a subsequent cabinet shuffle, Chen became the Secretary of the Presidential Office.
In 2012, Chen was again elected to the Legislative Yuan for a four-year term, once again representing Tainan County.
Alleged special fund misuse and acquittal
On September 21, 2007, Chen faced charges of using false receipts to write off expenses from a special governmental account; the alleged misuse involved 368,199 Taiwan dollars (12,454 USD) during his time as foreign minister and presidential secretary general between July 2004 and June 2006. Vice President Annette Lu and DPP chairperson Yu Shyi-kun were also indicted on special fund abuse charges on the same day. Subsequently, in 2012, the Taipei District Court dismissed the case against Chen, finding him not guilty of all charges. Both Lu and Yu were similarly found not guilty. The court ruled that all three officials did not improperly use their special allowances and discretionary state affairs funds.[2][3][4][5]
See also
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chen Tangshan. |
References
- ↑ biography of Mark Chen on the Legislative Yuan official website
- ↑ "Lu special allowance fund trial begins", Taipei Times, 20 November 2007
- ↑ Taiwan's Vice President, two others indicted on corruption, M&G Asia-Pacific News, Sep 21, 2007
- ↑ "Former officials found not guilty", Taipei Times, 3 July 2012
- ↑ "Former vice president found not guilty of special fund abuse", Focus Taiwan News Channel, 2 July 2012
Government offices | ||
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Preceded by | Magistrate of Tainan County 1993–2001 |
Succeeded by Su Huan-chih |
Preceded by | Minister of Foreign Affairs 2004–2006 |
Succeeded by James C. F. Huang |
Preceded by | Secretary-General of the National Security Council 2007–2008 |
Succeeded by Su Chi |
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- 1935 births
- Magistrates of Tainan County
- Democratic Progressive Party (Taiwan) politicians
- National Taiwan University alumni
- Taiwan independence activists
- Taiwanese Ministers of Foreign Affairs
- Living people
- Politicians of the Republic of China on Taiwan from Tainan
- Recipients of the Order of Brilliant Star