Wei Che-ho

Wei Che-ho (Chinese: 魏哲和; pinyin: Wèi Zhéhé; born 28 April 1946) is a Taiwanese engineer who served as minister of the National Science Council from 2001 to 2004.

Career

Wei attended National Chiao Tung University (NCTU) in Taiwan alongside Stan Shih, before earning his doctorate from the University of Washington in the United States. He then began teaching at NCTU in 1976. In 1979, Wei and Lin Jung-sheng cofounded Wang Labs. Wei was later appointed vice president of National Chiao Tung University. Months after the Chen Shui-bian presidential administration took office, Wei was appointed leader of a secondary technology consultation task force in November 2000.[1][2] On 6 March 2001, Wei succeeded Weng Cheng-yi as minister of the National Science Council (NSC).[3][4] After taking his position at the NSC, Wei resigned several other positions, including his administrative post at National Chiao Tung University and the government-convened technology task force.[2] Weeks after Wei assumed the NSC post, the Third Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung was damaged by fire, and Wei led an independent task force to look into the matter.[5] Wei's investigation ruled out electrical system design as a cause of the fire.[6]

Like his predecessor Weng Cheng-yi,[2] Wei struggled to establish the Tainan Science-based Industrial Park, due to noise concerns, as the site was near the proposed route of the Taiwan High Speed Rail.[7] Due to this issue, NSC vice chairman Hsueh Hsiang-chuan resigned,[8] and was replaced by Huang Wen-hsiung.[9] In May 2001, Wei reached an agreement with the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research in the United States regarding ROCSAT-3.[10] In July 2001, amendments to the Animal Protection Law took effect, offering stricter protections for animals used in laboratory research. Wei stated that enforcement of the amended law would improve Taiwan's international image.[11] Wei was retained as National Science Council minister when the Yu Shyi-kun cabinet took office in February 2002.[12]

As minister of the National Science Council, Wei expressed caution about commencing scientific exchanges with China,[13] and supported the passage of laws that codified oversight of Taiwanese technology workers in China.[14][15] He also sought to acquire land and expand science parks in Taiwan.[16][17] A May 2003 survey run by the Humanistic Science, Cultural and Educational Foundation ranked Wei the fifth-best government minister.[18] From October 2003 to March 2004, the National Science Council ran a science education radio program called Science 180.[19] After French president Jacques Chirac expressed reservations about the 2004 Taiwanese cross-Strait relations referendum, Wei cancelled a scheduled trip to France in January 2004.[20][21][22]

Wei's resignation as minister of the National Science Council took effect on 20 May 2004.[23][24] After leaving public service, Wei returned to National Chiao Tung University as an adjunct professor and served on the board of directors of several companies.[25][26]

References
  1. Huang, Hsien-chou (3 November 2000). "Technology task force should be abolished". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  2. Chiu, Yu-tzu (18 March 2001). "New science chief faces old issues". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  3. Lin, Chieh-yu (5 March 2001). "New Party stalwart to join Cabinet". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  4. Huang, Joyce (6 March 2001). "Four new Cabinet officials appointed". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  5. Chiu, Yu-Tzu (23 March 2001). "Chang lashes out at Taipower". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  6. Chiu, Yu-tzu (29 March 2001). "Campaigners say AEC's nuclear regulation lax". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  7. Chiu, Yu-tzu (1 May 2001). "Council vows to tackle vibrations". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  8. Chiu, Yu-tzu (19 May 2001). "Government looking for industrial parks leader". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  9. Chiu, Yu-tzu (15 June 2001). "NSC appoints new vice chairman". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  10. Chiu, Yu-tzu (4 May 2001). "US 'eye in the sky' to help observe Taiwan's weather". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  11. Chiu, Yu-tzu (11 July 2001). "New protections for lab animals". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  12. Huang, Joyce (25 January 2002). "Yu unveils final appointments to 'combative Cabinet'". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  13. Low, Stephanie (12 March 2002). "Eight-inch fab plan gaining steam". Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  14. Low, Stephanie (31 March 2002). "Government drafts law to fight high-tech espionage". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  15. "'Pan-blues' oppose skilled labor limit". Taipei Times. 9 April 2002. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  16. Chiu, Yu-tzu (15 May 2002). "Hsinchu makes room for fabs". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  17. Chiu, Yu-tzu (24 October 2002). "NSC panned for bio-tech park land-purchase plan". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  18. "Justice minister tops performance poll". Taipei Times. 1 June 2003. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  19. Chiu, Yu-tzu (23 October 2003). "Council promotes science with a new radio program". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  20. Chiu, Yu-tzu (29 January 2004). "Top officials retaliate for Chirac snub". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  21. Chen, Melody (30 January 2004). "France only against unilateral action, ministry says". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  22. Ko, Shu-ling (30 January 2004). "Angry Cabinet suspends exchanges with France". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  23. Chiu, Yu-tzu (22 May 2004). "ROCSAT-2 gets off the ground". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  24. Chiu, Yu-tzu (24 May 2004). "Satellite will yield more than images". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  25. "魏哲和(Wei, Che-Ho) 講座教授及兼任教授" (in Chinese). National Chiao Tung University. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  26. "Che Ho Wei , PhD". Market Screener. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
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