Chen Li-an

Chen Li-an (陳履安, pinyin: Chén Lǚ'ān; born June 22, 1937), sometimes spelled Chen Lu-an, a Taiwanese politician, was President of the Control Yuan of the Republic of China.

Related Topics:
Pinyin - June 22 - 1937 - Taiwan - Control Yuan - Republic of China

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Son of former Vice President Chen Tsyr-shiou, Chen was born in Lushan (廬山縣), Jiangxi and earned his masters' and Ph.D. in mathematics from New York University. He had a close friendship with Wang Yung-ching, a respected businessman. Wang later appointed Chen the headmaster of the private Ming-chi Technology College, which Wang owned (July 1970 - February 1972).

Related Topics:
Chen Tsyr-shiou - Lushan - Jiangxi - Ph.D. - New York University - Wang Yung-ching - Ming-chi Technology College

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He was the defense minister from 1990 - 93. He left the Kuomintang and became an independent in September 1995 to express his open criticisms of Lee Teng-hui's Mainland policy.

Related Topics:
Kuomintang - Lee Teng-hui - Mainland

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Lin Yang-kang originally considered Chen to be his vice-presidential running-mate in the ROC presidential election, 1996. However, Chen chose to run as president himself (with Wang Ching-feng as the vice-presidential candidate). As Chen is a devoted convert to Tibetan Buddhism (he is ethnically Han), he toured the island in a strong spiritual theme in his campaign, giving an image that some commented to be like an "ascetic monk".

Related Topics:
Lin Yang-kang - ROC presidential election, 1996 - Wang Ching-feng - Tibetan Buddhism - Han

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After losing his bid in the presidential election, Chen announced that he would no longer hold another public post in his life. As part of his efforts to promote Tibetan Buddhism, he founded the Hwa-yu Foundation (化育基金會), of which he serves as president and his eldest son, Chen Yu-ting (陳宇廷), serves as director. Chen also organized charities to financially assist ethnic minorities in mainland China.

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From 1996 to 1998, he visited the People's Republic of China three times, including a visit with President Jiang Zemin.

Related Topics:
People's Republic of China - Jiang Zemin

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While he still considered the Kuomintang a "rotten party" http://www.taiwanheadlines.gov.tw/20000229/20000229p1.html, Chen endorsed the KMT candidate Lien Chan in the ROC presidential election, 2000, believing that Lien was unlike the rest of the Kuomintang.

Related Topics:
Lien Chan - ROC presidential election, 2000

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On January 6, 2001, Chen re-joined Kuomintang, also bringing his wife, Tsao Chin (曹倩), to join for the first time. He commented that while it had done some embarrassing things, the Kuomintang also did some good to the country.

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See also: Politics of Taiwan

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