Chien and his parents originate from Hangzhou, Zhejiang. Chien's paternal grandfather, Chien Hong-Yeh, was a Chief Judge of the Criminal Court in Shanghai. Chien's father, Chien Shih-Liang, was a chemist and educator, and the former President of the National Taiwan University and Academia Sinica.[2] Chien's mother was Chang Wan-tu.
He was born in Peking's Shou Shan Hospital, a hospital of the Peking Union Medical College, on March 21, 1935 (February 17 on the lunar calendar). In the fall of 1937, at the age of two, as the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out, his family moved to Shanghai to live with his paternal grandfather. His grandfather was assassinated during the Wang Jingwei regime in July 1940 after refusing to go along with a Japanese attempt to control the court system. After the war ended, his family moved back to Peking, where his father became the chair of Peking University's Chemistry Department at the invitation of President Fu Ssu-nien. With the Chinese Civil War, his family moved to Shanghai in mid-January 1949 and then to Taiwan with the Nationalist Government in mid-February.
In Taiwan, Chien continued his studies at Jianguo High School, where he graduated in 1952. He attended National Taiwan University as an undergraduate, graduating in 1956 with a bachelor's degree with honors in Political Science. During his time at the National Taiwan University, he was elected as the president of the student government [zh] and held the first Model United Nations conference in Taiwan.[3][4] He also joined the China Youth Corps, where he visited Turkey and Spain in 1955. Chien passed the foreign service examination in 1956.
Chen was engaged to Julie Tien on September 16, 1961, with Madame Hu Shih presiding over the ceremony in New York. Hu Shih was close to the Chien family, having mentored Chien since his time in Peking.[7] On September 22, 1963, the couple were married at Taipei's Armed Forces Officers Club with Wang Yun-wu officiating their marriage.
Upon returning to Taiwan in 1961, Chien interned at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for three months and subsequently joined the Ministry in early 1962. Within months, he transferred to the Executive Yuan, as a secretary and the English interpreter for Premier and Vice PresidentChen Cheng.[8] Chien also served as the English secretary and interpreter for President Chiang Kai-shek from 1965 to 1975.[9][10][11][12] Remembering his experience as an aide to President Chiang Kai-shek, Chien once said: "Sometimes I did oral translation four to five times a day. I was lucky to come into contact with the late President and leaders of many other nations. I was greatly enlightened by listening to their conversations."[13]
In 1963, Chien was awarded the 1st Annual Ten Outstanding Young Persons Award of the Republic of China along with other figures such as businessman Wu Yao-ting and politician Peng Ming-min.
Chien was an executive officer for the Ministry from 1962 to 1963 and section chief of the 1st Section of the Department of North American Affairs from 1964 to March 1967. He served as the deputy director-general of the Department from March 1967 to July 1969 and then as director-general from July 1969 to June 1972.[14] As Director-General in Taipei, he pushed to accelerate congressional liaison work in Washington. He also helped initiated massive invitational programs for senators, members of the House, and Congressional aides to visit Taiwan.[15]
On August 18, 1969, Chien graduated from the 10th class of the Defense Research Institute [zh].[16]
Chien taught at the National Chengchi University as an adjunct associate professor between 1962 and 1964, and as an adjunct professor at National Taiwan University from 1970 to 1972.[19]
Director-General of the Government Information Office
On June 11, 1974, Chien presided over the opening ceremony of the 20th Asian Film Festival held in Taipei. The festival was attended by nearly 400 performers, directors, and producers. As the masters of ceremonies, Chien proclaimed that "[w]e (Asian countries) have no wish to take a back seat in any phase of film-making" and that "[w]e shall produce more and better films not only for entertainment but also for education."[20][21]
As the Director-General of the GIO, Chien hosted the 10th and 11th Golden Bell Awards in 1974 and 1975.
Ting Mao-shih replaced Chien as the Director-General of the Government Information Office in May 1975.
Vice and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
The Cabinet approved Chien's appointment as Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs on May 15, 1975, and Chien assumed his new position on May 19.[24]
On February 14, 1978, Chien began an eight-country diplomatic tour to strengthen ties with European nations. The trip included stops in Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Italy, the Holy See, and more. During the same trip, he met with the Austrian Chancellor Bruno Kreisky and foreign minister Willibald Pahr.
After President Jimmy Carter's announcement to de-recognize the Republic of China on December 16, 1978, Chien met with US Ambassador Leonard S. Unger and provided six suggestions to the US Government. According to the Chien, the recommendations included: 1) to protect the Chinese residing in the United States; 2) to safeguard our properties in the US; 3) to refrain from lobbying other friendly government to follow the US lead; 4) to secure the validity of treaties and agreements between us; 5) to set up new offices for continuing all kinds of exchanges (we suggested the name should be 'Republic of China Liaison Office in the United States' as proposed by Senator Edward Kennedy earlier); and, 6) to continue supplying us with defensive weapons as required.[15]
On December 27, Chien received the United States delegation led by Deputy Secretary of StateWarren Christopher. During the joint press conference at Taipei Songshan Airport, Chien stated that the de-recognition "disrupted the traditional friendship and harmonious relations between our two countries and has seriously impaired the peace and security of the Asian‐Pacific region."[25] He also declared that "the US government unilaterally yielded to Chinese Communist terms" in severing diplomatic relations and disregarding commitments such as the Mutual Defense Treaty.[26] Recalling the press conference and the statement he made on behalf of the ROC government, Chien said: "That was not my opinion only. I was speaking from the point of view of my country. Though I received warm praise for my speech, my heart was still heavy, since the break in relations seemed to show that all the efforts of diplomats, including myself, had been in vain."[13]
Chien was promoted to the Deputy Foreign Minister position on July 26, 1979, while serving concurrently as the Director-General of the Department of Policy Planning.[27][28]
In December 1979, Chien visited Thailand and met with Prime MinisterKriangsak Chamanan and discussed the economic outlook and the status of refugees in Thailand.
Deputy Foreign Minister Chien and Mrs. Chien, along with GIO Director-General James Soong, Deputy Director-General of the Bureau of Foreign TradeVincent Siew, and others accompanied Premier Sun Yun-suan on a two-week tour of three Central American allies – Costa Rica, Panama, and the Dominican Republic – in August 1980. The delegation met with President Rodrigo Carazo of Costa Rica, President Aristides Royo of Panama, and President Antonio Guzmán of the Dominican Republic.[29]
In early June 1981, Chien made a trip to Singapore and met with Prime MinisterLee Kuan Yew and discussed issues around regional stability. Chien and Lee remained lifelong friends.
In December, Chien accompanied Premier Sun Yun-suan on a visit to Indonesia and met with Suharto and other key officials.
In 1982, Chien became the first ROC Deputy Foreign Minister to visit Japan after the break of diplomatic relations ten years prior. He met with Chief Cabinet SecretaryKiichi Miyazawa on April 12 and with Foreign Minister Yoshio Sakurauchi on April 13.
He remained as Deputy Foreign Minister until November 19, 1982, when he was appointed as the ROC Representative to the United States by President Chiang Ching-kuo.
Upon arriving at his new post, he "found the new assignment very tough, as there was a lack of trust on both sides," and morale at the office was low.[15] He also had to check in with the State Department on everything he did, such as accepting invitations and giving interviews. Soon afterward, such restrictions were lifted.
According to AIT Chairman David Dean [zh], Chien was a brilliant and effective envoy, and his term as the ROC representative "was off to a running start and didn't seem to slow down the entire time he was in Washington."[5][31] A declassified Central Intelligence Agency memo noted Chien's ability to cultivate relationships with key figures in the US government and private sector and described him as a tough and aggressive diplomat who is "willing to compromise on form in order to obtain a stronger substantive relationship."[32]
Due to the unique status of the ROC, as its representative in the United States, Chien once said: "establishing a long-term friendship requires working at building up good will" and that "all the things in Sino-American relations that are good for us can't be discussed, and the things that are bad are the ones that everyone sees."[33]
Shortly upon arriving at the United States, on January 12, 1983, Chien met with Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Paul Wolfowitz on Secretary George Shultz's forthcoming trip to the mainland. Wolfowitz briefed Chien again on February 16 after the Secretary's visit.
On May 19, at the AIT Washington headquarters located in Arlington County, Virginia, Chien met with National Security AdvisorWilliam P. Clark Jr., National Security Council's Gaston J. Sigur Jr., and AIT's David Dean. Chien said that arms sales are essential to the confidence of Taiwan's public. Chien also referenced that Taiwan is willing to help the US assist the economic developments in the Central America region and that joint projects with American funds would be undertaken by Taiwanese personnel and technical teams.[34]
On December 1, Mr. and Mrs. Chien were invited by Vice President George H. W. Bush for a welcome dinner at the Alibi Club, where they discussed their studies at Yale University, bilateral relations between the ROC and US, and the effects of high-level visits between the US and mainland China on Taiwan.[31]
Prior to President Regan's April 1984 visit to the mainland, Chien worked with White House Chief of StaffJames Baker, NSC's Sigur, and State Department's Wolfowitz to prevent US concessions to China on issues related to Taiwan.[31]
In a 1988 interview with the Los Angeles Times's James Mann, Chien said that he personally met with all 100 members of the United States Senate and met with approximately 230 members of the House of Representatives. In the same interview, he also added that "[a]ll the meetings (with executive-branch officials) have to be on neutral ground, such as restaurants, hotels and what-not," and "[i]n terms of frequency, it's much more frequent now than before 1979."[40] Mann went on to say that "Fredrick Chien may not be an Ambassador, but his understanding of how Washington operated and his influence probably exceeded 98% of all ambassadors in Washington."
When Chien arrived in Washington D.C. in 1983, Twin Oaks, ROC ambassador's former residence, required extensive repairs upon the transfer of the property back to the ROC Government from the Friends of Free China Association a few months prior.[43] Chien and his wife supervised the repair and restoration of the 26-room English Georgian Renaissance-style mansion.[44] The Chiens sourced Chinese calligraphy and paintings through the Director of the National Palace Museum and furniture from the Veterans Affairs Council's associated businesses. Upon its completion, while the mission was no longer the representative's residence, it was used for cultural, economic, and social purposes.[45] After being closed for two thousand plus days and a nine-months restoration, which cost US$500,000, Twin Oaks reopened on September 13, 1984, and held its first social event for Howard University on the following day.[46]
Shirley Kuo, the Minister of Finance and Taiwan's first female cabinet minister, was selected as Chein's replacement as Chairperson of the Council for Economic Planning and Development.
Saudi Arabia became the first diplomatic ally to cease ties with the ROC during Chien's tenure, and it established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic in July 1990.[51]
In January 1991, Mr. and Mrs. Chien traveled to Africa to meet with South Africa's F. W. de Klerk and Swaziland's Mswati III. The Chiens were accompanied by Section Chief David Lin, who would, later on, become the Minister of Foreign Affairs under President Ma Ying-jeou's administration.[52] During a meeting with President de Klerk on January 22, the South African leader assured that his government cherished the special relationship with the ROC and that there was no hidden agenda to develop relations with the mainland.[53] During the visit, Chien and South Africa's Minister of FinanceBarend du Plessis signed an agreement for the ROC to provide South Africa's Industrial Development Corporation with a $60 million low-interest loan.[54][55]
Speaking at the International Conference on the Republic of China and the New International Order on August 21, 1991, Chien said that his country stands beside the freedom-loving nations of the world and is "willing to seize every opportunity to fulfill (her) destiny in a transformed international context."[56] He added that the three prongs of "pragmatic diplomacy" are to consolidate and strengthen existing diplomatic ties, develop and upgrade substantive ties with countries without diplomatic relations, and to participate or resume participation in international organizations and activities according to a more flexible formula.[57]
In a December 1991 essay published in Foreign Affairs, Chien shared Taiwan's model of "pragmatic diplomacy" and also stated that "Taiwan's experience shows that the Chinese people, like any other people, are fully capable of practicing democracy, promoting rapid economic growth ... and living peacefully with their neighbors." Chien also cited Taiwan's growing status in the international community, with its growing economic strength, rapid democratization, and flexible diplomacy.[58]
On June 29, 1992, Chien announced that the ROC resumed diplomatic relations with the African nation of Niger, without asking the Niger government to sever ties with the mainland. Soon afterward, the mainland broke off diplomatic ties with Niger.[59]
During a July interview with political scientist Dennis V. Hickey, when asked about the issue of representation, Chien stressed that "we still adhere to the position of one China and that Taiwan is a part of (the Republic of) China."[60]
When the Republic of Korea, the last Asian country with formal diplomatic relations with ROC, decided to transfer diplomatic recognition to the PRC in August, as foreign minister, Chien criticized"[t]he Government of Roh Tae-woo has violated the trust and trampled on international justice."[61]
Chien and his wife Julie made a visit to Singapore in November 1992 despite Singapore's official diplomatic relationship with Beijing.[62][63]
Chien cited in the 1992 year-end press conference that while the ROC formally applied for accession to the GATT (under the name of Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu), "the biggest challenge for us...would be re-entry to the United Nations."[64]
Chien made a "private visit" to Japan as the ROC foreign minister in February 1993, marking the first ministerial visit to Japan since 1972 when the two nations broke its relations.[65][66]
On April 21, two weeks after President Lee's announcement at the Legislative Yuan, Chien announced that the ROC would formally apply to rejoin the UN by September 1995, the first time the ROC government published a timeframe on its bid to rejoin the UN.[67]
On July 4, speaking on television, Chien called for the people of Taiwan to "tell their foreign friends that it is unfair and wrong for the international community to refuse to accept 20.8 million people who want to join the United Nations." Weeks later, on July 29, at the ROC-Central American Joint Cooperative Committee Conference, in San José, Costa Rica, Chien called upon the attendees' nations to speak in favor of the ROC membership in the UN during the UN General Assembly.[68]
At a speech sponsored by the Friends of the East-West Center on August 6, Chien said that close economic, commercial, and technological cooperation is key to avoiding confrontation. He also emphasized that the ROC intends to "be a partner for peace, progress and prosperity in what we hope will be a more enlightened era ahead."[69]
Commenting on the ROC's participation in the UN in January 1994 interview, Chien said: "Ever since we declared our intention to participate in the UN, (Beijing) has become even more adamant in its attempts to downgrade our (ROC) status and evade reality."[70]
Chien and President Lee attended Nelson Mandela's inauguration on May 10, 1994, after South Africa's historic all-race election.[71]
On January 3, 1996, the ROC and Senegal re-established diplomatic relations, bringing the number of countries that recognizes the ROC to 31. At the joint communique signing ceremony with Foreign Minister Moustapha Niasse, Chien noted that the "establishment of diplomatic ties marks a significant development in our pursuit of pragmatic diplomacy."[72][55]
Later on towards his term as foreign minister, it was reported that Chien had quarrels with President Lee over the key elements of pragmatic diplomacy, leading Lee to shift more decision making directly to the Office of the President.[73]
Speaker of the National Assembly
Chien was elected Speaker on July 8, 1996, four days after the 3rd National Assembly (NA) began. Chien, a member of the KMT, was selected with the support of the New Party, the third-largest party in the NA, as the KMT only held a slim majority in the Assembly. Hsieh Lung-sheng was elected as deputy speaker.[74]
President of the Control Yuan
Chien (left) and Vice President Vincent Siew (middle) and incoming Control Yuan President Wang Chien-shien (right) at the handover ceremony in 2008
On December 3, 1998, President Lee Teng-hui announced his intention to nominate Chien to replace Wang Tso-jung as the President of the Control Yuan. Lee sent the formal nomination over to the National Assembly for confirmation on December 5.[75] The confirmation introductions and hearings took place between December 16 and 22, and the review process by Assembly members took place between December 23 and January 12 of the following year. On January 13, 1999, the National Assembly confirmed Chien as President of the Control Yuan.[76] Chien was sworn in on February 1 for a six-year term.
In 2001, after the September 11 attacks, Chien was asked by President Chen Shui-bian to visit New York on behalf of the ROC government and to present a $1 million check for the people of the United States.[15][77]
In June 2004, President Chen appointed Chien as a special envoy to attend the state funeral of former US President Ronald Reagan in the United States.[78]
On July 6, 2004, President Chen Shui-bian appointed Chien as the Chair of the 319 Shooting Truth Investigation Special Committee.[79]
After more than four decades of career in public service, Chien concluded his six-year term on January 31, 2005, and returned to private life.
On March 9, 2005, Chien received the Order of Chiang Chung-Cheng from President Chen Shui-bian for his service as the President of the Control Yuan. In his remarks, he stated the importance of an independent Control Yuan and its position in the Constitution of the Republic of China.
Following his tenure, the candidate nominated by President Chen Shui-bian was not confirmed by the Legislative Yuan controlled by the Kuomintang; thus, the Control Yuan was idle until the confirmation of Wang Chien-shien 2008 under the new Ma Ying-jeou administration.
Post political career
Since his retirement in 2005, Chien has served as the Chairperson of the Cathay Charity Foundation and a senior advisor of the Cathay United Bank.[80][81] Chien previously sat on the Bank's board of directors.[2] Since 2011, Chien succeeded Lee Huan as the Chairman of the Pacific Cultural Foundation. Chien also serves along with Morris Chang and Lien Chan as a board member for the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange. The private nonprofit organization provides support for research grants on Chinese studies in the humanities and social sciences at overseas institutions.[82] Chien was elected chairman of the foundation in 2019.
Chien is a Distinguished Chair Professor at Chung Hua University, a private university Hsinchu City, Taiwan, and the Honorary Dean of the university's Chung Hua College.[83]
On May 12, 2020, Chien's new memoir presentation ceremony was attended by former Vice President Vincent Siew, former President of the Legislative Yuan Wang Jin-pyng, former Governor of the Central BankPerng Fai-nan, Foxconn founder Terry Gou, in addition to three former Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Chen Chien-jen, Francisco Ou, and Timothy Yang. His wife, Julie, children Carl and Carol, and grandchildren were also present. At the event, Siew, who once worked under Chien as his deputy at the Council for Economic Planning and Development, credited Chien as a very successful and an excellent diplomat. Chien mentioned that the pragmatic diplomacy practiced during his time as the foreign minister did not equate to "money diplomacy." He also spoke about how he turned down President Lee Teng-hui's offer to form a cabinet as he believed that being premier was an impossible mission.
Chien is married to Julie Tien, with whom he has a son and a daughter, Carl and Carol. Carl Chien received an MBA from Georgetown University and now serves as the Vice-chairman Asia Pacific and Senior Country Officer Taiwan for JPMorgan. Carl married Virginia (Ginny) Hu, with sons Justin, Darren, and Fred Jr., and daughter Christen. Carol married David Sun, with daughters Alex, Katherine, and son William.[90]
Chien (right) with his brothers Robert (middle) and Shu (left) holding golf clubs in 1970
Chien is known as one of the "four princes of Taiwan" along with Lien Chan, Chen Li-an, and Shen Chun-shan, all of whose fathers attained prominence in politics prior to their sons' successes.[79]
Chien is a member of the American University Club in Taipei and an honorary member of the Club of Rome.[91][92]
^ ab中華民國監察院院長錢復先生(PDF) (in Chinese (Taiwan)), Republic of China: Government Information Office, 2003, archived from the original(PDF) on 2011-06-06, retrieved 2009-11-04
^Baker, Hugh D. R. (1969), "Review — Frederick Foo Chien: The opening of Korea ...", Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, 32 (2): 461–462, doi:10.1017/S0041977X00056081, S2CID161826410
^China Division, Office of East Asian Analysis (1984-11-14). Taiwan: Abandoning Low Key Diplomacy(PDF) (Report). Central Intelligence Agency. p. 4. Archived from the original(PDF) on January 20, 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
^Chien, Fredrick (August 21, 1991). The Republic of China Under the New International Order in the Post-Cold War Era (Speech). International Conference on the Republic of China and the New International Order. Taipei: Arizona Historical Foundation.
^Chien, Frecrick (1991-12-01). "A View From Taipei". Foreign Affairs. Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
^Joseph Cheng Yu-shek; Maurice Brosseau, eds. (1993). China Review 1993(PDF). Chinese University Press. p. 9.14. ISBN9622015700. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
^United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs. Subcommittee on International Security, International Organizations, and Human Rights (1994). Should Taiwan be Admitted to the United Nations?. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 121. ISBN0160462622. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
^Teng, Chung-Chian; Guo, Baogang, eds. (2012). Taiwan and the Rise of China: Cross-Strait Relations in the Twenty-first Century. Lexington Books Limited. p. 21.
^Bartholomew, Carolyn, ed. (2009). Report to Congress of the U. S. -China Economic and Security Review Commission (Report). p. 234.
^Li, Yi-shuan Julie; Leona, Flores, eds. (2018). Shu Chien: An Autobiography And Tributes At His 80th Birthday And Beyond. World Scientific Publishing Company Pte Limited. p. 10.
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