Shen Chang-huan

Shen Chang-huan (Chinese: 沈昌煥; pinyin: Shěn Chānghuàn; 16 October 1913 – 2 July 1998) was a Taiwanese politician and diplomat. He is the longest-serving Minister of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan's history, in office for a cumulative total of over twelve years from 1960 to 1966 and from 1972 to 1978.

In this Chinese name, the family name is Shen.
Shen Chang-huan
沈昌煥
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China
In office
29 May 1972 – 16 December 1978
Preceded byChou Shu-kai
Succeeded byChiang Yen-si
In office
31 May 1960 – 27 May 1966
Preceded byHuang Shao-ku
Succeeded byWei Tao-ming
Ambassador of the Republic of China to Thailand
In office
1 February 1969 – 1 June 1972
Preceded byPeng Meng-chi
Succeeded byMa Chi-Chuang
Ambassador of the Republic of China to Vatican City
In office
September 1966 – March 1969
Preceded byHsieh Shou-kang
Succeeded byChen Chih-mai
Ambassador of the Republic of China to Spain
In office
1959–1960
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China
In office
1953–1959
MinisterGeorge Yeh
Huang Shao-ku
Personal details
Born16 October 1913
Suzhou, Kiangsu
Died2 July 1998(1998-07-02) (aged 84)
NationalityRepublic of China
Political partyKuomintang
RelativesLai Man-Wai (father-in-law)
EducationMaster's degree
Alma materYenching University
University of Michigan

Shen was born in Suzhou, Jiangsu, in mainland China. He was educated at Yenching University in Beijing, before moving to the United States and completing a Master of Arts degree at the University of Michigan. He was a member of the Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party), and from 1945 to 1948 served as Chiang Kai-shek's private secretary.[1] He was a government spokesman from 1950 to 1953, after the retreat to Taiwan. During a lengthy career in foreign affairs, he served as Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs (1953–1959), Ambassador to Spain (1959–1960), Minister of Foreign Affairs (1960–1966), Ambassador to the Holy See (1966–1969), Ambassador to Thailand (1969–1972), and Minister of Foreign Affairs again (1972–1978). His second term as foreign minister was served under Chiang Ching-kuo, the son of Chiang Kai-shek.[2]

His strong anticommunist convictions, his determination not to deviate from the one China position in the ROC's diplomatic relations, and the high value he placed on maintaining as close relations as possible with the United States coincided closely with the views of his leader [Chiang Ching-kuo].[2]

— Ralph N. Clough, Chiang Ching-kuo's Leadership in the Development of the Republic of China on Taiwan (1993)

Personal life

Shen's wife was the oldest daughter of Japanese-born Hong Kong filmmaker Lai Man-wai. This relationship indirectedly caused the suicide of Lai Man-wai's actor son Lai Hang in mainland China.

References
  1. Ralph N. Clough (1993). "Chiang Ching-kuo's policies". In Shao Chuan Leng (ed.). Chiang Ching-kuo's Leadership in the Development of the Republic of China on Taiwan. University Press of America. p. 134. ISBN 9780819189042.
  2. Clough (1993), p. 135.
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