James Soong

James Chu-yu Soong (宋楚瑜 Wade-Giles: Sung Ch'u-yü; pinyin: Sòng Chǔyú; born March 16, 1942) is a politician in the Republic of China on Taiwan. He founded and chairs the People First Party, which favors eventual Chinese reunification.

Early life and education

Soong was born in Hunan Province in mainland China. His father, Soong Ta, was a career soldier staunchly loyal to Chiang Kai-shek who rose to the rank of Major General in the Nationalist Army. With the Nationalist defeat in the Chinese Civil War, the family fled to Taiwan in 1949. He earned his bachelor's degree in diplomacy from National Chengchi University in 1964. During this time, he was remembered for wearing business suits every day to fit his career ambitions.

Related Topics:
Hunan Province - Mainland China - Soong Ta - Chiang Kai-shek - Major General - Chinese Civil War - Taiwan - Bachelor's degree - National Chengchi University - 1964

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Soong travelled to the United States for graduate school and received an M.A. in political science from the University of California, Berkeley in 1967 and an M.S. in library science from the Catholic University of America in 1971. He earned a Ph.D. in political science from Georgetown University in 1974.

Related Topics:
United States - M.A. - Political science - University of California, Berkeley - 1967 - M.S. - Library science - Catholic University of America - 1971 - Ph.D. - Georgetown University - 1974

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While at Berkeley, Soong met his future wife Viola Chen (陳萬水). They later had a son and a daughter.

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