Andrew Yang (Taiwanese politician)

Andrew Yang (Chinese: 楊念祖; pinyin: Yáng Niànzǔ; born 15 May 1955) was the 29th Minister of National Defense of the Republic of China, having served 1–6 August 2013. Before this, he was the Deputy Minister of National Defense from 2009 to 2013.[4][5]

For other people named Andrew Yang, see Andrew Yang (disambiguation).
In this Chinese name, the family name is Yang.
Andrew Yang
Yang Nien-dzu
楊念祖
29th Minister of National Defense of the Republic of China
In office
1 August 2013[1] – 6 August 2013
DeputyKao Kuang-chi
Preceded byKao Hua-chu
Succeeded byKao Kuang-chi (acting)[2]
Yen Ming
7th Deputy Minister of National Defense (Policy) of the Republic of China
In office
17 September 2009 – 1 August 2013
MinisterKao Hua-chu
Preceded byChang Liang-jen
Succeeded byAndrew Hsia[3]
Personal details
Born15 May 1955 (1955-05-15) (age 65)
Taipei, Taiwan
NationalityRepublic of China
Alma materFu Jen Catholic University
London School of Economics and Political Science

Education

Yang is a graduate of Fu Jen Catholic University and the London School of Economics and Political Science of the University of London. He specialized in the study of United States-Taiwan-China relations and national security. He had devoted much of his time in the research of building a cross-Taiwan Strait military mutual trust, the People's Liberation Army and regional security while teaching at universities and other academic institutions in Taiwan.[6]

Early career

Yang had been a research associate at the Sun Yat-sen Center for Policy Studies of the National Sun Yat-sen University in Kaohsiung in 1986–2000. Yang had been the adviser for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1998, Mainland Affairs Council and Ministry of National Defense since 2000.[7] He was a lecturer at the National Sun Yat-sen University in 2000–2009.

Prior to his appointment as ROC Deputy Minister of National Defense in 2009, Yang was the Secretary-General of the China Council of Advanced Policy Studies, a Taipei-based think tank concentrating on military affairs. He also has traveled frequently to the United States where he maintains a close relationship with top officials from The Pentagon.[8]

ROC Minister of National Defense
Defense Minister Yang and Lt. Gen. Chen Pao-yu and Lo Chi-chin in Legislative Yuan

Ministerial post appointment

On 29 July 2013, Premier Jiang Yi-huah announced a cabinet reshuffle for the first time since he took the Premiership on 18 February 2013. Yang was appointed to be the Minister of National Defense replacing Kao Hua-chu who had earlier tendered his resignation several times due to the death scandal of Corporal Hung Chung-chiu on 4 July 2013.[9] Right after his appointment, Yang promised that he would review military administration, professional certification and supervisory systems to improve human rights.[10] Yang was the first civilian to head the post since Ma Ying-jeou took the Presidential office on 20 May 2008.

Resignation

On 6 August 2013, Yang resigned from his position due to plagiarism allegations. Yang told the press that some portions of the book he had written back in 2007 were written by his friends without proper citations. He decided to resign from his post to maintain the reputation of the Executive Yuan. Deputy Minister of National Defense, Kao Kuang-chi temporarily headed the ministry on 7 August until the official ministerial appointment of Yen Ming by the Executive Yuan on 8 August 2013.[2][11]

References
  1. Yu, Ann (30 July 2013). "Defense Chief Exits in Cabinet Reshuffle", The China Post
  2. Shih, Hsiu-chuan (7 August 2013). "Yang Resigns as Defense Minister after Six Days", Taipei Times
  3. "Representative to Indonesia named to MND deputy post - Taipei Times". taipeitimes.com. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
  4. Taiwan Matters (18 September 2009). "Andrew Yang Appointed as Taiwan's Deputy Minister of Defense", The Taiwan Walk
  5. "(22 April 2011). "PLA Modernization and Taiwan National Defense Policy", Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies"". Archived from the original on 2014-08-26. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
  6. Feng, Joyce (29 July 2013). "Cabinet Reshuffle Aimed at Enhancing Public Well-Being: Premier", Focus Taiwan
  7. "Yang, Andrew Nien-dzu (3 May 2013). "Asia-Pacific Security Environment Changes and ROC's Defense Transformation", Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies"". Archived from the original on 2013-02-25. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
  8. AP (30 July 2013). "Deputy Defense Minister, a Civilian, to Step Up to Helm", The China Post
  9. The Associated Press (29 July 2013). "Taiwan Names Civilian to Head Defense Ministry", Ventura County Star
  10. Chen, Pei-huang and Y. L. Kao (29 July 2013). "New Defense Minister to Strive for Military, Human Rights Reform", Focus Taiwan
  11. Shih, Hsiu-chuan (8 August 2013). "Ma Appoints General Yen Ming as Defense Minister", Taipei Times.
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