Tang Fei facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tang Fei
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唐飛 | |
![]() Official portrait, 2000
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Senior Advisor to the President | |
In office 6 October 2000 – 20 May 2005 |
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President | Chen Shui-bian |
16th Premier of Taiwan | |
In office 20 May 2000 – 6 October 2000 |
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President | Chen Shui-bian |
Vice Premier | Yu Shyi-kun Chang Chun-hsiung |
Preceded by | Vincent Siew |
Succeeded by | Chang Chun-hsiung |
21st Minister of National Defense | |
In office 1 February 1999 – 19 May 2000 |
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Premier | Hsiao Wan-chang |
Vice Minister | Wu Shih-wen |
Preceded by | Chiang Chung-ling |
Succeeded by | Wu Shih-wen |
16th Chief of the General Staff of the ROC Armed Forces | |
In office 5 March 1998 – 31 January 1999 |
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President | Lee Teng-hui |
Preceded by | Lo Ben-li |
Succeeded by | Tang Yao-ming |
16th Executive Vice Chief of the General Staff of the ROC Armed Forces | |
In office 1 July 1995 – 4 March 1998 |
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President | Lee Teng-hui |
Preceded by | Lo Ben-li |
Succeeded by |
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12th Commander-in-Chief of the ROC Air Forces | |
In office 1 September 1992 – 30 June 1995 |
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President | Lee Teng-hui |
Preceded by | Lin Wen-li |
Succeeded by | Huang Hsien-jung |
Personal details | |
Born | 15 March 1932 Taicang, Jiangsu, Republic of China |
(age 93)
Political party | Independent (2000–present) |
Other political affiliations |
Kuomintang (1952–2000) |
Spouse | Chang Ming-tsan |
Education | Republic of China Air Force Academy (BS) |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch/service | ![]() |
Years of service | 1944–1999 |
Rank | Senior General |
Battles/wars | Third Taiwan Strait Crisis |
Tang Fei (born March 15, 1932) is a well-known politician from Taiwan. He was also a retired general in the Taiwan Air Force. He served as the Prime Minister of Taiwan for a short time in 2000. He worked under President Chen Shui-bian. Even though he was from a different political party, the Kuomintang (KMT), he took the job. He later resigned because he disagreed with some of the government's plans.
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Early Life and Education
Tang Fei was born on March 15, 1932. His birthplace was Taicang, Jiangsu, in what was then the Republic of China. He started his military journey at a young age. At 12, he joined the Chinese Air Force Preparatory School. He finished his studies there in 1950.
Air Force Academy Training
After preparatory school, he continued his education. He attended the Republic of China Air Force Academy. He graduated from the academy in 1952. Tang Fei also completed several advanced military courses. These included the Air Force Squadron Officers' Course in 1963. He also studied at the Air Force Command and General Staff College in 1971. His final advanced training was at the War College in 1979.
Military Career
Tang Fei had a long and active career in the military. He held many different roles. He started as a pilot, flying planes from 1953 to 1960. After that, he became an operations officer from 1960 to 1961. He then served as a flight leader from 1961 to 1965. From 1968 to 1970, he was a squadron commander.
Overseas Assignments
Tang Fei also worked in other countries. His first overseas job was in Washington, D.C. He worked at the ROC embassy as an assistant air attaché from 1972 to 1975. When he returned to Taiwan, he held several important roles. He was chief of the operations section of the Third Wing from 1975 to 1976. Later, he became a group commander from 1976 to 1978. He went abroad again from 1979 to 1982. This time, he was an armed forces attaché in South Africa.
Leadership Roles in the Air Force
Back in Taiwan, Tang Fei continued to rise in the ranks. He served as a wing commander from 1983 to 1984. He was also the Air Force deputy chief of staff for planning from 1984 to 1985. In 1985, he was chosen to be the superintendent of the Chinese Air Force Academy. From 1986 to 1989, he was the director of the Air Force's Department of Political Warfare.
In 1989, he became the commanding general of the Combat Air Command. He then served as vice commander-in-chief of the ROC Air Force from 1989 to 1991. From 1991 to 1992, he was the director of the Department of Inspection for the Ministry of National Defense (MND). He then became the commander-in-chief of the ROC Air Force from 1992 to 1995. After that, he was the vice chief of the general staff (executive) from 1995 to 1998.
Reaching Four-Star General
In 1998, Tang Fei was promoted to a four-star general. He became the chief of the general staff. He was the first military officer to answer questions from lawmakers in the Legislative Yuan. In 1999, he retired from the military. He then took on a civilian role as the Minister of National Defense.
Political Career
Tang Fei was very important in modernizing Taiwan's military. He helped improve military equipment and personnel programs. He also played a key role in creating new laws. These included the National Defense Law and the Organization Law of the Ministry of National Defense. These laws helped reorganize and improve the military's command structure. They gave the Ministry of National Defense more power over the General Staff Headquarters.
Serving as Premier
On March 29, 2000, the newly elected President Chen Shui-bian announced a big decision. He chose Tang Fei to be the new Premier. The Premier is like a prime minister, leading the government's cabinet. Tang Fei served as Premier for about four and a half months. He resigned on October 3, 2000.
Government offices | ||
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Preceded by Lin Wen-li |
ROC Air Force Commander-in-Chief 1992–1995 |
Succeeded by Huang Hsien-jung |
Preceded by Lo Pen-li |
ROC Chief of the General Staff 1998–1999 |
Succeeded by Tang Yao-ming |
Preceded by Chiang Chung-ling |
ROC Minister of National Defense 1999–2000 |
Succeeded by Wu Shih-wen |
Preceded by Vincent Siew |
Premier of the Republic of China 2000 |
Succeeded by Chang Chun-hsiung |