Mark Chen

Chen Tang-shan Sc.D.
Foreign Minister of the Republic of China
In office April 16, 2004 – January 24, 2006
Preceded by	Eugene Chien
Succeeded by	James C. F. Huang
Personal details
Born	September 16, 1935 (1935-09-16) (age 76) Tainan Prefecture, Taiwan, Empire of Japan
Nationality	Republic of China (Taiwan)
Political party	Democratic Progressive Party
Alma mater	National Taiwan University University of Oklahoma Purdue University
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Geophysicist

Mark Chen Tang-shan (traditional Chinese: 陳唐山; simplified Chinese: 陈唐山; pinyin: Chén Tángshān; Wade–Giles: Chén Táng-shān), born September 16, 1935, in Tainan County (now part of Tainan City), Taiwan, is a Taiwanese politician, former Secretary-General of the Office of the President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) under ex-President Chen Shui-bian. He was also previously Foreign Minister of the ROC from 2004 to 2006 (the first Democratic Progressive Party member to occupy the position). He had worked for the Federal government of the United States.^{[citation needed]}

He has stated his intentions to run in the 2009 local Tainan County commissioner elections.^[1] He is still fighting indictments for misuse of special allowance funds.^[2]

Entry into politics

Chen became part of the Taiwan independence movement when he was studying in the United States. In 1970, he organized the World United Formosans for Independence. After the establishment of the World Federation of Taiwanese Associations (世界臺灣同鄉會聯合會), Chen Tang-shan became its president from 1979 to 1984.

Because of his political views, during this time Chen was put on a Kuomintang black list, and was unable to return to Taiwan. He was allowed to return in 1987. In 1992, two years after his return, Chen joined the Democratic Progressive Party and was elected a member of the Legislative Yuan. In December 1993, He was nominated the candidate of Tainan County Magistrate by the DPP and was elected. He was reelected again in 1997 with 66% of the vote.

In 2001, Chen returned to the Legislative Yuan as a representative of Tainan County. He became the Republic of China's thirty-second Foreign Minister in 2004. After Frank Hsieh resigned his Premiership and a subsequent cabinet shuffle, Chen became the Secretary of the Presidential Office.

Alleged corruption charges

On September 21, 2007, Chen faced charges of using false receipts to write off expenses from a special governmental account; the alleged misuse involved 368,199 Taiwan dollars (12,454 USD) during his time as foreign minister and presidential secretary general between July 2004 and June 2006. Vice President Annette Lu and DPP chairperson Yu Shyi-kun were also indicted on corruption charges on the same day.^[3][4]

See also

• Taiwan independence

References

1. ^ Mark Chen says he will not pull out of Tainan election, Taipei Times
2. ^ Lu, Chen, Yu in court for funds hearing, Taipei Times, Mar 27, 2009
3. ^ "Lu special allowance fund trial begins", Taipei Times, 20 November 2007
4. ^ Taiwan's Vice President, two others indicted on corruption, M&G Asia-Pacific New"s, Sep 21, 2007

Government offices
Preceded by Lee Ya-chiao	Magistrate of Tainan County 1993-2001	Succeeded by Su Huan-chih
Preceded by Eugene Chien	Foreign Minister of the ROC 2004-2006	Succeeded by James C. F. Huang
Preceded by Chiou I-jen	Secretary of the National Security Council 2007-2008	Succeeded by Su Chi

Persondata
Name	Chen, Mark
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	September 16, 1935
Place of birth	Tainan County, Taiwan
Date of death
Place of death