Andrew Nien-dzu Yang
Andrew Nien-dzu 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]
Andrew Nien-dzu 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 | |
Deputy | Kao Kuang-chi |
Preceded by | Kao Hua-chu |
Succeeded by | Kao 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 | |
Minister | Kao Hua-chu |
Preceded by | Chang Liang-jen |
Succeeded by | Andrew Hsia[3] |
Personal details | |
Born | 15 May 1955 68) Taipei, Taiwan | (age
Nationality | Republic of China |
Alma mater | Fu 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
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 Ready for the D-day (決戰時刻:20XX年解放軍攻台戰役兵棋推演), 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
- Yu, Ann (30 July 2013). "Defense Chief Exits in Cabinet Reshuffle", The China Post
- Shih, Hsiu-chuan (7 August 2013). "Yang Resigns as Defense Minister after Six Days", Taipei Times
- "Representative to Indonesia named to MND deputy post - Taipei Times". taipeitimes.com. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
- Taiwan Matters (18 September 2009). "Andrew Yang Appointed as Taiwan's Deputy Minister of Defense", The Taiwan Walk
- "PLA Modernization and Taiwan National Defense Policy". Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies. 22 April 2011. Archived from the original on 2014-08-26. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- Feng, Joyce (29 July 2013). "Cabinet Reshuffle Aimed at Enhancing Public Well-Being: Premier", Focus Taiwan
- 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.
- AP (30 July 2013). "Deputy Defense Minister, a Civilian, to Step Up to Helm", The China Post
- The Associated Press (29 July 2013). "Taiwan Names Civilian to Head Defense Ministry", Ventura County Star
- Chen, Pei-huang and Y. L. Kao (29 July 2013). "New Defense Minister to Strive for Military, Human Rights Reform", Focus Taiwan
- Shih, Hsiu-chuan (8 August 2013). "Ma Appoints General Yen Ming as Defense Minister", Taipei Times.
External links
- Media related to Andrew Yang at Wikimedia Commons