Liu Chao-shiuan

Liu Chao-shiuan 劉兆玄
2nd Central Committee of the Kuomintang
In office 20 May 2008 – 10 September 2009
Preceded by	Ma Ying-jeou
Succeeded by	Wu Den-yih
Premier of the Republic of China
In office 20 May 2008 – 10 September 2009
President	Ma Ying-jeou
Deputy	Paul Chiu
Preceded by	Chang Chun-hsiung
Succeeded by	Wu Den-yih
Minister of Transportation
In office 1993–1996
Premier	Lien Chan
Preceded by	Eugene Chien
Succeeded by	Cai Zhaoyang
Personal details
Born	10 May 1943 (1943-05-10) (age 68) Liuyang, China
Political party	Kuomintang
Alma mater	National Taiwan University (BS) Université de Sherbrooke (MS) University of Toronto (Ph.D.)

Liu Chao-shiuan (simplified Chinese: 刘兆玄; traditional Chinese: 劉兆玄; pinyin: Liú Zhàoxuán; Wade–Giles: Liu Chao-hsuan; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lau Tiāu-hiân; born May 10, 1943) is a Taiwanese educator and politician. He is a former president of the National Tsing Hua University(1987-1993) and Soochow University(2004-2008) and a former Premier of the Republic of China(2008-2009).

Biography

Liu was born in Liuyang, Hunan in 1943. He received his bachelor's degree from National Taiwan University in 1965, a master's from Université de Sherbrooke in 1968,^[1] and a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto in 1971.^[2] Dr. Liu earned all of his academic degrees in the field of chemistry.

Liu is also an author, and, together with two of his brothers, has published novels of ancient Chinese rovers practicing martial arts under pen name.

Liu started to receive public attention when he was the President of National Tsing-hua University in Hsinchu before 1993. At that time, he and his school had just successfully hosted the annual unified college-entrance examinations in Taiwan.

Liu was subsequently served as Minister of Transportation from 1993 to 1996; and then Vice-Premier from 1997 to 2000. He became the President of Soochow University in 2004.

In April 2008, Liu was asked by current President Ma Ying-jeou to serve as the Premier of the Republic of China. He accepted the post and his term as Premier took effect with Ma's incoming administration on May 20, 2008.

Liu and his Cabinet resigned en masse on 10 September 2009, with Wu Den-yih succeeding the post of Premiership.

Liu had suffered mounting criticism over the aftermath of Typhoon Morakot, and had initially tendered his resignation to President Ma in mid-August. Liu, however, was asked by President Ma to remain and oversee initial relief efforts as they were carried out. Liu said, during his resignation announcement, that 90% of subsidies have been distributed and 92% of those displaced have been temporarily relocated.^[3]

See also

• Kuomintang
• History of the Republic of China
• Politics of the Republic of China
• Elections in the Republic of China

Notes

1. ^ (French) "Alma mater". Université de Sherbrooke. October 2008. http://www.usherbrooke.ca/udes/magazine/lire/vol1-no3/alma-mater/index.html. Retrieved 2008-10-24. 
2. ^ The Rose Wolfe Distinguished Alumni Award
3. ^ "Taiwan premier quits over typhoon response - CNN.com". CNN. 8 September 2009. http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/09/08/taiwan.premier/index.html?section=cnn_latest. Retrieved 11 May 2010. 

Academic offices
Preceded by Mao Gao-wen	President of National Tsing Hua University 1987–1993	Succeeded by Richard Lee
Preceded by Liu Yuanjun	President of Soochow University 2004–2008	Succeeded by Ma Chun-mei Acting
Political offices
Preceded by Eugene Chien	Minister of Transportation 1993–1996	Succeeded by Cai Zhaoyang
Preceded by Chang Chun-hsiung	Premier of the Republic of China 2008–2009	Succeeded by Wu Den-yih
Party political offices
Preceded by Ma Ying-jeou	Central Committee of the Kuomintang 2008-2009	Succeeded by Wu Den-yih

Persondata
Name	Liu, Chao-Shiuan
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	10 May 1943
Place of birth	Liuyang, China
Date of death
Place of death