Fredrick Chien facts for kids
Chien Foo (錢復), also known as Fredrick Foo Chien, is a Taiwanese diplomat and politician. He was born on March 21, 1935. He held many important government jobs in Taiwan. From 1999 to 2005, he was the President of the Control Yuan, which is like a government watchdog. Before that, he was the Speaker of the National Assembly from 1996 to 1999. He also served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1990 to 1996, helping Taiwan connect with other countries.
Chien Foo studied at Yale University and earned a doctorate degree. He worked in various government roles, including leading the Government Information Office and being Taiwan's representative to the United States.
Quick facts for kids
Chien Foo
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錢復
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Official portrait, 1997
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| President of Control Yuan | |||||||||
| In office 1 February 1999 – 1 February 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Wang Tso-yung | ||||||||
| Succeeded by | Wang Chien-shien (2008) | ||||||||
| Speaker of the National Assembly | |||||||||
| In office 8 July 1996 – 13 January 1999 |
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| Preceded by | Title Established | ||||||||
| Succeeded by | Su Nan-cheng | ||||||||
| Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China | |||||||||
| In office 1 June 1990 – 10 June 1996 |
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| Vice | Stephen S. F. Chen | ||||||||
| Preceded by | Lien Chan | ||||||||
| Succeeded by | John Chiang | ||||||||
| Chairman of the Council for Economic Planning and Development | |||||||||
| In office 22 July 1988 – 1 June 1990 |
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| Preceded by | Chao Yao-tung | ||||||||
| Succeeded by | Shirley Kuo | ||||||||
| Minister without Portfolio of the Executive Yuan | |||||||||
| In office 22 July 1988 – 1 June 1990 |
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| Premier | Yu Kuo-hwa Lee Huan |
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| ROC Representative to the United States | |||||||||
| In office 19 November 1982 – 20 July 1988 |
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| Preceded by | Cai Weiping | ||||||||
| Succeeded by | Ting Mao-shih | ||||||||
| Director-General of the Government Information Office | |||||||||
| In office 1 June 1972 – 19 May 1975 |
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| Preceded by | James Wei | ||||||||
| Succeeded by | Ting Mao-shih | ||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||
| Born | 21 March 1935 Beijing, Republic of China |
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| Political party | Kuomintang | ||||||||
| Spouse |
Julie Tien
(m. 1963) |
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| Children |
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| Parents |
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| Relatives | Robert Chien, Shu Chien (brothers) Chien Hong-ye (grandfather) |
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| Education | National Taiwan University (BA) Yale University (MA, PhD) |
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| Signature |  |
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| Military service | |||||||||
| Allegiance |  Republic of China |
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| Branch/service |  Republic of China Army |
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| Years of service | 1956–1958 | ||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 錢復 | ||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 钱复 | ||||||||
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Contents
- Early Life and Education
- Early Career in Government
- Leading the Government Information Office
- Working in Foreign Affairs
- Taiwan's Representative to the United States
- Chairman of Economic Planning
- Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Speaker of the National Assembly
- President of the Control Yuan
- After Politics
- Family and Personal Life
- Awards and Honours
- Images for kids
Early Life and Education
Chien Foo was born in Beijing, China, on March 21, 1935. His family's roots were in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. His grandfather was a Chief Judge in Shanghai. Chien's father, Chien Shih-Liang, was a famous chemist and educator. He was also the former President of National Taiwan University.
When Chien was two years old, his family moved to Shanghai because of the Second Sino-Japanese War. Later, they moved to Taiwan with the Nationalist Government in 1949.
Schooling and University
In Taiwan, Chien went to Jianguo High School and graduated in 1952. He then studied political science at National Taiwan University, graduating with honors in 1956. While there, he was elected president of the student government. He also helped organize Taiwan's first Model United Nations conference.
After serving in the military, he went to the United States for more studies. He earned a master's degree from Yale University in 1959. Then, he got his Ph.D. in international relations from Yale in 1962. His Ph.D. research was about China's diplomacy in Korea a long time ago.
Chien married Julie Tien on September 22, 1963, in Taipei.
Early Career in Government
After finishing his studies, Chien Foo returned to Taiwan in 1961. He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1962. Soon after, he became a secretary and English interpreter for the Premier and Vice President, Chen Cheng. From 1965 to 1975, he also served as the English secretary and interpreter for President Chiang Kai-shek. He said this experience taught him a lot by listening to important conversations.
In 1963, Chien received the 1st Annual Ten Outstanding Young Persons Award in Taiwan. He also worked on improving relations with the United States. He helped arrange visits for US senators and other officials to Taiwan.
In 1971, Chien attended the United Nations General Assembly as an advisor. However, the UN later voted to recognize the People's Republic of China instead of the Republic of China (Taiwan) as the official representative of China. This was a big change for Taiwan's international standing.
Leading the Government Information Office
In June 1972, Chien Foo became the Director-General of the Government Information Office (GIO). This office is in charge of sharing information about the government.
While leading the GIO, Chien hosted the Asian Film Festival in Taipei in 1974. He said that Asian countries wanted to make more and better films for both fun and education. He also hosted the Golden Bell Awards, which celebrate achievements in television and radio.
Chien traveled to the United States and Europe to talk about Taiwan. He appeared on TV shows and met with important officials. He spoke about the friendship between Taiwan and other nations. In May 1975, Ting Mao-shih took over his role at the GIO.
Working in Foreign Affairs
In May 1975, Chien was appointed Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. He worked to strengthen Taiwan's ties with European countries.
In December 1978, the United States announced it would no longer officially recognize the Republic of China (Taiwan). Chien met with the US Ambassador and suggested ways to keep friendly relations. He emphasized the importance of protecting Taiwanese people in the US and continuing agreements. He also spoke about the US decision hurting peace in the region.
Chien was promoted to Deputy Foreign Minister in July 1979. He traveled to countries like Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia to discuss economic issues and regional stability. In 1982, he became the first Taiwanese Deputy Foreign Minister to visit Japan after their diplomatic ties were broken.
He left this role in November 1982 to become Taiwan's Representative to the United States.
Taiwan's Representative to the United States
From 1982 to 1988, Chien Foo served as Taiwan's Representative in the United States. This role was like being an ambassador, even though the US didn't officially recognize Taiwan. He worked at the Coordination Council for North American Affairs (CCNAA) Office in Washington, D.C.
When he started, he found it challenging because there was a lack of trust between the two sides. However, he was very good at building relationships with important people in the US government. He was known as a strong and effective diplomat. He believed in building long-term friendships.
Chien met with many US officials, including President Ronald Reagan and Vice President George H. W. Bush. He worked to make sure the US understood Taiwan's needs, especially regarding arms sales for defense. He also talked about Taiwan helping with economic development in Central America.
He gave many speeches at universities and organizations across the US. He spoke about Taiwan's successful economic growth and its move towards democracy.
When Chien was about to leave his post in 1988, many US congressmen and senators gave speeches praising his work. His farewell party was attended by over 3,200 guests, showing how respected he was.
Restoring Twin Oaks
When Chien arrived in Washington, D.C., the former residence of Taiwan's ambassador, called Twin Oaks, needed a lot of repairs. Chien and his wife oversaw the restoration of this large mansion. They decorated it with Chinese art and furniture. After being closed for a long time, Twin Oaks reopened in 1984 and was used for cultural and social events.
New Office Building
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During his time as Representative, Chien also bought the land for the current office building of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in Washington, D.C. The new five-story building was completed in 1986.
Chairman of Economic Planning
After President Chiang Ching-kuo passed away in 1988, Chien Foo was called back to Taiwan. President Lee Teng-hui appointed him as the Chairman of the Council for Economic Planning and Development. In this role, he also served as a Minister without Portfolio, which means he was a minister without a specific department, helping with various government tasks.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
On June 1, 1990, Chien became the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He worked to strengthen Taiwan's relationships with other countries. He traveled to Africa, meeting leaders in South Africa and Swaziland. He also signed an agreement for Taiwan to provide a loan to South Africa.
Chien spoke about Taiwan's "pragmatic diplomacy," which meant strengthening existing ties, building new connections, and joining international organizations. He believed Taiwan's economic strength and democracy would help it gain more recognition.
In 1992, Taiwan formally applied to join the GATT (now the World Trade Organization) under the name "Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu." Chien also said that rejoining the United Nations would be a big challenge. He encouraged people to tell their foreign friends that it was unfair for the international community to exclude Taiwan's 20.8 million people from the UN.
Chien and President Lee Teng-hui attended Nelson Mandela's inauguration in South Africa in 1994. In 1996, Taiwan re-established diplomatic relations with Senegal, increasing the number of countries that recognized Taiwan.
Speaker of the National Assembly
On July 8, 1996, Chien Foo was elected Speaker of the National Assembly. This assembly was a legislative body in Taiwan. He was chosen with support from different political parties.
President of the Control Yuan
In December 1998, President Lee Teng-hui nominated Chien to become the President of the Control Yuan. The Control Yuan is a government branch that watches over other government agencies to make sure they are doing their jobs correctly and fairly. It's like a watchdog for the government.
Chien was confirmed for the position in January 1999 and started his six-year term on February 1.
In 2001, after the September 11 attacks in the US, President Chen Shui-bian asked Chien to visit New York. Chien presented a $1 million check from Taiwan to help the people of the United States. In 2004, he also attended the state funeral of former US President Ronald Reagan as a special envoy.
Chien Foo finished his term as President of the Control Yuan on January 31, 2005, after more than 40 years of public service. In March 2005, he received the Order of Chiang Chung-Cheng from President Chen Shui-bian for his service.
After Politics
Since retiring in 2005, Chien Foo has been involved in several organizations. He is the Chairperson of the Cathay Charity Foundation and a senior advisor for Cathay United Bank. He also became the Chairman of the Pacific Cultural Foundation in 2011.
Chien is also a board member for the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange. This organization supports research on Chinese studies around the world. In 2019, he was elected chairman of this foundation.
He is also a Distinguished Chair Professor at Chung Hua University in Taiwan.
In 2010, Chien received the Distinguished Alumni Award from National Taiwan University. In 2015, he accompanied President Ma Ying-jeou to Singapore to pay respects to Singapore's founding father, Lee Kuan Yew.
In May 2020, Chien released a new memoir. Many important figures attended the presentation ceremony. He spoke about his "pragmatic diplomacy" and how it was not about "money diplomacy."
Boao Forum for Asia
Chien Foo has attended the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan, China, several times. This forum is a meeting place for leaders from Asia and other continents to discuss important issues. From 2009 to 2011, Chien met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at these forums.
Family and Personal Life
Chien Foo is married to Julie Tien. They have a son, Carl, and a daughter, Carol. His son, Carl Chien, works in finance and is a Vice-chairman at JPMorgan. Carl has three sons and one daughter. Carol is married to David Sun and has two daughters and one son.
Chien is the youngest of three brothers. His eldest brother, Robert Chien, was an economist and government official. His second brother, Shu Chien, is a famous physiologist and bioengineer who received the National Medal of Science.
Chien Foo is known as one of the "four princes of Taiwan." This nickname is given to a group of influential politicians whose fathers were also prominent in politics.
He is a member of the American University Club in Taipei and an honorary member of the Club of Rome. Chien speaks Mandarin, English, and Cantonese. He also enjoys playing golf. He is known for being serious and dedicated in his life and work.
Awards and Honours
National Honours
Republic of China: Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon (1975)- Republic of China: Order of Propitious Clouds with Special Grand Cordon (2000)
- Republic of China: Order of Chiang Chung-Cheng (2005)
Foreign Honours
South Korea: Order of Diplomatic Service Merit (1972)
South Vietnam: Sac-Lenh of the Order of Kim Khanh (1973)
Paraguay: Grand Cross of the Order of National Merit (1975)
Dominican Republic: Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella (1975)- Dominican Republic: Grand Cross with Silver Breast Star of the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella (1975)
Honduras: Grand Cross with Silver Star of the José Cecilio del Valle Order (1979)
El Salvador: Grand Cross with Silver Star of the Order of José Matías Delgado (1979)
Haiti: Grand Officer of the National Order of Honour and Merit (1979)
South Africa: Grand Cross of the Order of Good Hope (1979)
Panama: Order of Vasco Núñez de Balboa (1980)- Dominican Republic: Grand Cross with Silver Breast Star of the Order of Christopher Columbus (1982)
- Paraguay: Extraordinary Grand Cross of the Order of National Merit (1975)
Swaziland: Chief Counsellor of the Royal Order of the King Sobhuza II (1991)- Honduras: Grand Cross with Silver Star of the Order of Francisco Morazán (1991)
Central African Republic: Grand Officer of the Order of Central African Merit (1992)
Guatemala: Grand Cross of the Order of the Quetzal (1992)- El Salvador: Grand Cross with Silver Star of the Order of José Matías Delgado (1992)
- Guatemala: Grand Cross of the Order of Antonio José de Irisarri (1992)
Nicaragua: Grand Cross of the Order of José Dolores Estrada Battle of San Jacinto (1993)
Costa Rica: Grand Silver Cross of the National Order of Juan Mora Fernández (1993)
Niger: Grand Officer of the National Order of Niger (1994)
Burkina Faso: Officer of the National Order of Burkina Faso (1994)- Panama: Grand Cross of the Order of Manuel Amador Guerrero (1994)
Guinea Bissau: National Order of Merit of Co-operation and Development (1995)- Guatemala: Grand Cross of the Order of the National Sovereign Congress (1995)
Honorary Degrees
- South Korea: Honorary LL.D. degree, Sung Kyun Kwan University (1972)
- Honorary LL.D. degree, American University in the Caribbean (1988)
United States: Honorary D.Lit. degree, Wilson College (1993)- United States: Honorary Dr. of Public Service, Florida International University (1994)
- United States: Honorary LL.D. degree, Boston University (1997)
- United States: Honorary LL.D. degree, Idaho State University (1997)
Awards
- 1st Annual Ten Outstanding Young Persons Award of the Republic of China (1963)
- 5th Annual National Taiwan University Distinguished Alumni Award (2010)
Images for kids
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Chien invites Washington Post's Katharine Graham to the historic Twin Oaks Estate, September 11, 1986
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Dr. Chien presents his 3rd memoir, May 12, 2020
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Chien (right) with his brothers Robert (middle) and Shu (left) holding golf clubs in 1970
