Lien Chan

In thisChinese name,thefamily nameisLien.

Lien Chan
Liên chiến
7thVice President of the Republic of China
In office 20 May 1996 – 20 May 2000
President	Lee Teng-hui
Preceded by	Lee Yuan-tsu
Succeeded by	Annette Lu
Premier of the Republic of China
In office 27 February 1993 – 31 August 1997
President	Lee Teng-hui
Vice Premier	Hsu Li-teh
Preceded by	Hau Pei-tsun
Succeeded by	Vincent Siew
3rdChairman of the Kuomintang
In office 24 March 2000 – 19 August 2005
Deputy	Vincent Siew Wang Jin-pyng Chiang Chung-ling Wu Po-hsiung Lin Cheng-zi Chiang Pin-kung Ma Ying-jeou
Preceded by	Lee Teng-hui
Succeeded by	Ma Ying-jeou
Governor ofTaiwan Province
In office 16 June 1990 – 25 February 1993
Preceded by	Chiu Chuang-huan
Succeeded by	James Soong
10thMinister of Foreign Affairs
In office 20 July 1988 – 1 June 1990
Premier	Yu Kuo-hwa Lee Huan
Preceded by	Ting Mao-shih
Succeeded by	Fredrick Chien
Vice Premier of the Republic of China
In office 1 May 1987 – 22 July 1988
Premier	Yu Kuo-hwa
Preceded by	Lin Yang-kang
Succeeded by	Shih Chi-yang
11thMinister of Transportation and Communications
In office 1 December 1981 – 23 April 1987
Premier	Sun Yun-suan Yu Kuo-hwa
Preceded by	Lin Chin-sheng
Succeeded by	Kuo Nan-hong
Chair ofNational Youth Commission
In office 1 August 1978 – 30 November 1981
Premier	Sun Yun-suan
Preceded by	Wang Wei-nong
Succeeded by	Kao Ming-hui
Personal details
Born	(1936-08-27)27 August 1936 Xi'an,Shaanxi,Republic of China
Political party	Kuomintang
Spouse	Fang Yu ​ (m.1965)​
Relations	Sean Lien(Son),Arlene Lien(Daughter)
Education	National Taiwan University(BA) University of Chicago(MA,PhD)

Lien Chan(Chinese:Liên chiến;pinyin:Lián Zhàn;Wade–Giles:Lien² Chan⁴;Pe̍h-ōe-jī:Liân Chiàn;born 27 August 1936) is aTaiwanesepolitician. He was the Chairman of theTaiwan Provincial Governmentfrom 1990 to 1993,Premier of the Republic of Chinafrom 1993 to 1997,Vice President of the Republic of Chinafrom 1996 to 2000, and was the Chairman of theKuomintang(KMT) from 2000 to 2005, apart from various ministerial posts he had also held. Lien ran for thePresident of the Republic of Chinaon behalf of the Kuomintang twice in 2000 and 2004, but both lost toChen Shui-bianof theDemocratic Progressive Party.Upon his retirement as KMT Chairman in August 2005, he was given the title Honorary Chairman of KMT. He is highly credited after holding agroundbreaking visit to Mainland Chinain his capacity as theChairman of the Kuomintangto meet with theGeneral Secretary of the Chinese Communist PartyHu Jintaoon 29 April 2005, the first meeting between the two party leaders after the end ofChinese Civil Warin 1949, which subsequently helped thaw the long-stalledcross-strait relations.

Early life and education

Premier Yen Chia-kan officiates the wedding of Lien Chan and Fang Yu

Lien Chan was born at Jenkins and Robertson Hospital inXi'an,Shaanxiprovince,Chinaas the only child of Taiwanese fatherLien Chen-tungand Mainland Chinese mother Chao Lan-k'un ( triệu lan khôn ).His paternal grandfather,Lien Heng,was the writer ofThe General History of Taiwan( đài loan thông sử ), a book that is often cited for the quote, "Taiwan's sorrow is that it has no history." His father, Lien Chen-tung, served as Minister of the Interior from 1960 to 1966, promoting local autonomy and maintaining close ties with theCC Clique.His mother, Zhao Lankun, came from a prominent family in Shenyang and had Manchu ancestry. She graduated fromYenching University.

Lien earned aBachelor's degreeinpolitical sciencefrom theNational Taiwan Universityin 1957 and aMaster of Artsin International Law and Diplomacy in 1961. He received aPhDin political science in 1965 from theUniversity of Chicagoand married former Miss Republic of ChinaFang Yuthe same year.Lien is also currently a Trustee Emeritus on theBoard of Trusteesto the University of Chicago.

Lien held assistant professorships of political science at theUniversity of Wisconsin–Madisonfrom 1966 to 1967 and theUniversity of Connecticutfrom 1967 to 1968. He returned to Taiwan in 1968 to become visiting professor of political science at the National Taiwan University, serving as chairman of the Political Science Department and dean of the Graduate Institute of Political Science the following year.

Political career

His official positions included Ambassador toEl Salvador(1975–1976),Minister of Transportation and Communications(1981–1987), Vice Premier (1987–1988), Foreign Minister (1988–1990) before becoming Governor ofTaiwan Province(1990–1993).In 1993 he was appointedPremier of the Republic of China.In 1996,Lee Teng-huiselected him asrunning matein the presidential election. Lee and Lien won the election for the presidency and the vice-presidency respectively. Before becoming Chairman of the KMT, he was Vice Chairman (1993–2000) and a member of the Central Committee (1984–2000).

During his term in office, Lien was credited for having established National Health Insurance, which is the national health insurance policy for all citizens of the Republic of China. It ranks as one of the best national health plans in the world and modeled by other nations who seek to have a national health coverage for other citizens. He spearheaded the constructions of Cross-Island Highway ( hoành quán công lộ ), a series of highways that connected the eastern side of the island to the western side of the island. Taiwan is dominated by the Central Mountain Range which cordons off the east from the west. In order to go to the eastern side from the western side, one had to circle the island to reach their destinations before the highways were constructed. After Lien constructed these highways, traffic back-and-forth between the east and west of the island was much more efficient. He also began the reconstruction to the Military dependents’ villages ( quyến thôn ) which were temporary shelters designated for the military personnel and their families when the Kuomintang (KMT) first moved to Taiwan. There are over 879 of these Military dependents’ villages which housing nearly 100,000 households within. Most of this housing was temporary shelter and were constructed during the period between 1945 and 1950s to house the military personnel as the KMT retreated to Taiwan. Half a century later when it became clear that reunification with Mainland China under the terms of the Republic of China would not be possible, it became obvious that the housing for the military personnel would have to be reconstructed.

Throughout Lien's term as Foreign Minister and through his premiership, about 30 countries had diplomatic relations with Republic of China (Taiwan), this was the highest number of diplomatic relations since Republic of China was expelled from the United Nations in 1972 and severed diplomatic relations with the United States in 1976. Lien also established diplomatic relations with Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Grenada, Belize, Republic of Guinea-Bissau and reestablished diplomatic relations with Kingdom of Lesotho, Republic of Liberia and the Republic of Nicaragua.

Lien also established the foundations for the Internet in Taiwan via research centers established under the National Science Council ( quốc gia khoa học ủy viên hội ). Furthermore, he liberalized the telecommunications network which allowed for multiple players to compete and ushered in the mobile service era in the Telecommunications sector. He also revised and deregulated the regulation on cable television sector that allowed for multiple players in the television and cable sectors. These policies made Taiwan the most liberal area in Asia for Media.

For the purpose of developing Taiwan as an economic hub in the Asia-Pacific, Lien espoused a platform called the “Asia-Pacific Regional Operations Center” because Taiwan has two natural deep water harbors, one is Keelung and second one is Kaohsiung, shipments from all over the world would transport and transfer in these harbors before heading to Japan, Korea, China or Southeast Asia. However, due to Lee Teng-hui's ( lý đăng huy ) “two state solution” ( lưỡng quốc luận ), a theory advocated for China and Taiwan to engage in a special "state to state relationship", Mainland China was deeply angered, therefore Taiwan became increasingly marginalized.

Lien took an active role as a representative ofLee Teng-huiin quasi-official diplomacy in the mid-1990s. One of the greatest moments of his career is his 1995 meeting withVáclav Havel,in which Lien likened the democratic reforms of the Lee Teng-hui administration as being similar to theVelvet Revolution.

After the defeat of the KMT in 2000, Lien assume the leadership of the KMT. As the Chairman of the KMT, Lien vowed to learn from his loss and remake the KMT party. He held forums to discuss erasing the KMT's image as a corrupt institution and Lien promised to give up property seized by the KMT after the Japanese exodus.

The Pan-Blue reunited in the election of 2004 with Lien and Soong running on a combined ticket against DPP's Chen Shui-bian and Annette Lu. Chen Shui-bian was the incumbent and was trailing 13% behind in the polls before ballot day. Then, out of nowhere came two bullets, one barely grazing Chen's belly and another one grazing Annette Lu's knee. Immediately the DPP-control government suspended all election activities and prohibited all servicemen, policeman and security workers to return home to vote. The servicemen are typically Pan-Blue voters and number of service men affected was roughly 350,000. The DPP Secretary General of the President's office Chiou I-jen ( khâu nghĩa nhân ) immediately came out on media to announce that there was an assassination attempt on the DPP candidates Chen and Lu and accused the KMT of collaborating with the Chinese Communists Party to assassinate Taiwan's President. Lien lost that election by 0.228% margin, a mere 29,518 votes out of a total of 12,914,422 (12 million nine hundred and fourteen thousand four hundred and twenty two) ballots cast. Both Chen and Lu were released from the hospital on the same day and went to vote on the next day. Neither one had life-threatening injury nor did they lose consciousness or had a surgery. Rather, alleged assassin Chen Yi-hsiung ( trần nghĩa hùng ) was killed and his body was found ten days later ditched into a pond near where he lives. His body was formally dressed in suite and tie and entangled in a fishnet.

This incident sparked mass riots and controversy because it was believed that the shooting was staged in order to gain sympathy votes for Chen and Lu who won by a sliver of a margin. Hence the 319 Shooting Truth Investigation Special Committee was established.

On 31 Jan 2008, the 319 Shooting Truth Investigation Special Committee concluded its investigation into the assassination attempt on President Chen Shui-bian ( trần thủy biển ) and Vice President Annette Lu ( lữ tú liên ), and raised questions about whether the shooting was a staged event. "We have compared all of the evidence and clues through interviews and reconstructed the scene. Although the truth of the event remains unclear, the" truth "that government publicized and the evidence don't match," committee convener Wang Ching-feng ( vương thanh phong ) told reporters. The report also suggested that Chen Yi-hsiung ( trần nghĩa hùng ), whom the authorities identified as the shooter, was murdered instead of committing suicide when he was found dead 10 days after the incident.

In 2005, after Ma was elected as KMT chairman to succeed Lien, the KMT Central Committee offered the title of "Chairman Emeritus" (Honorary Chairman) to Lien.

In December 2010, Lien was awarded theConfucius Peace Prizein China, which was instituted as a reaction to theNobel Peace Prizeawarded toLiu Xiaobo.Lien's office said to theTaipei Times:“We've never heard of such an award and of course Mr Lien has no plans to accept it.”

Cross-strait relations

April 2005 breakthrough journey to mainland China

Main article:2005 Pan-Blue visits to mainland China

Lien Chan and theKuomintangtouring theSun Yat-sen MausoleuminNanjing.ThePan-Blue coalition visited the mainlandin 2005.

On April 26, 2005, Lien Chan traveled tomainland Chinato meet with the leaders of theChinese Communist Party(CCP). His meeting withCommunist Party general secretaryHu Jintaowas the highest level exchange sinceChiang Kai-shekandMao Zedongmet inChongqingon August 28, 1945, to celebrate the victory in theSecond Sino-Japanese Warand discuss a possible truce in the impendingChinese Civil War.

On April 27, Lien visited theSun Yat-sen Mausoleumin Nanjing. On April 28, he arrived in Beijing.

On the afternoon of April 29, he met with PRCParamount leaderHu Jintao(in his capacity asGeneral Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party).

Before meeting with Hu on April 29, Lien Chan delivered a speech atPeking University,which his 96-year-old mother Chao Lan-k'un attended nearly 80 years ago. On April 30, he headed to his birthplaceXi'an.He revisitedHouzaimen Primary School,which he attended 60 years ago. He also visited the Great Mausoleum ofQin Shi Huang,China's first emperor. Early on May 1, he paid homage to his grandmother's tomb near Qingliangsi.

Later that day, Lien arrived inShanghai,where he attended a banquet hosted by Shanghai CCP Party Secretary GeneralChen Liangyu.On May 2, he met withWang Daohan,the 90-year-old chairman of the mainland-basedAssociation for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits,and the representatives of Taiwanese businesspeople. He returned to Taiwan at noon on May 3.

October 2005 visit to Shenyang

In October 2005, Lien made his second visit to the mainland. He visitedShenyang,Liaoningto pay homage to his maternal grandmother's tomb at Lansheng Village and the school where his mother studied.

2006 visit to Mainland China

Lien Chan in Beijing in April 2006

In April 2006, Lien departed to Mainland China to visitFujian.He paid tribute to his ancestors inZhangzhouand received an honorary doctor's degree fromXiamen UniversityinXiamen.

On 11 April 2006, Lien arrived inHangzhou,Zhejiang.He was welcomed byXia Baolong,deputy secretary of Zhejiang Provincial Committee of theChinese Communist Partyat theHangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport.In Hangzhou, Lien met with provincial government leaders and visited theWest Lake.

Two days later, Lien visited Beijing to attend the firstCross-Straits Economic Trade and Culture Forum.Lien met with CCP general secretaryHu Jintaoat the forum, where both underscored the peaceful development of relations between the two sides.

2010 visit to Shanghai

In April 2010, Lien visitedShanghaito attend the opening ceremony of theShanghai World Expo 2010.

2013 visit to Beijing

In February 2013, Lien visited Beijing to meet withXi Jinping,the newly electedGeneral Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party.

Lien also met withYu Zhengsheng(chairman-designate of theChinese People's Political Consultative Conference),Wang Huning(member of thePolitburo of the CCP),Li Zhanshu(chief of theGeneral Office of the CCP),Dai Bingguo(state councilor of the PRC),Wang Yi(director of theTaiwan Affairs Office of the State Council),Chen YunlinandZheng Lizhong(president and vice president ofARATS).

Lien and his wifeLien Fang Yualso visitedBeijing Aerospace Command and Control Centerand met withLiu Wang,Liu YangandJing Haipeng,astronauts of theShenzhou 9.

2014 visit to Beijing

Lien and delegates from 80 business leaders and civil group representatives, including formerTaiwan Solidarity UnionChairmanShu Chin-chiang,visited Beijing on 17 February to meet withZhang Zhijun,the head ofTaiwan Affairs Office,and on 18 February withXi Jinping,General Secretary of the Chinese Communist PartyCCP Central Committee,at theDiaoyutai State Guesthousefor non-governmental exchanges.This 3-day trip came after the invitation from theChinese Communist Party.

2015 visit to Beijing

Lien was invited to a Chinese military parade marking the end of theSecond Sino–Japanese Warin September 2015. During the visit, Lien asked Beijing to strongly consider supporting ROC PresidentMa Ying-jeou's East China Sea Peace Initiative.

APEC representative

Lien Chan at the2008 APEC Summit in PeruwithDmitry Medvedev.

Lien was selected by PresidentMa Ying-jeouasspecial envoyto represent the Republic of China (participating asChinese Taipei) at theAsia-Pacific Economic Cooperation(APEC) in 2008–2012.

While at APEC, Lien also met with Chinese Communist Party general secretaryHu Jintao,the highest level of official exchange between the Mainland and Taiwan on the international stage at that time.

Name

Hisfamily nameis Lien; hisgiven nameis Chan. "Chan" means "battles"and his full name literally means" successive battles. "The name originated from Lien Heng who wrote to his pregnant daughter-in-law inXi'an:

ChinaandJapanwill battle inevitably. If the child born is aboy,name him Lien Chan, signifying that the strength coming from within oneself will never diminish and can overcome the enemies and be victorious. It also has the meaning of reviving the formernation,reorganizing thelightandhopeof ourhomeland.

— 『 trung, nhật tất tương nhất chiến, như sinh nam tắc danh liên chiến, ngụ hữu tự cường bất tức, khắc địch chế thắng, hữu phục hưng cố quốc, trọng chỉnh gia viên quang minh hi vọng. 』

Family

Lien Chan was descended from a family of literati. His family arrived in Taiwan during the Emperor Kang Xi era and had settled in Tainan residing in an area called Ma Bing Ying; which was the former training ground of the Zheng Cheng Gung forces in his campaign against the Dutch. Lien's family harvested sugar on their plantations for generations. Lien's grandmother's family were also wealthy merchants who traded camphor and sugar. Lien ‘s mother, Chao Lan Kun came from a wealthy Shenyang family, and is credited for having preserve the family wealth throughout the turbulent times of post-Japanese colonization.

Lien is married toLien Fang Yu.They have two sons,Sean Lienand Lien Sheng-Wu ( liên thắng võ ), and two daughters, Lien Hui-Hsin ( liên huệ tâm ) and Lien Yong-Hsin ( liên vịnh tâm ).

See also

• Kuomintang
• Politics of the Republic of China
• Elections in the Republic of China
• History of the Republic of China
• Administrative divisions of the Republic of China
• Political status of Taiwan
• The Four Princelings of Kuomintang

External links

• Official Kuomintang website