Eugene Chien

Eugene You-hsin Chien (Template:Zh; born 4 February 1946) is a Taiwanese aeronautical engineer, politician, and diplomat. He served as Foreign Minister of the Republic of China from 2002 to 2004.

Early life and education

Chien was born in Taiwan in 1946. He graduated with his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in mechanical engineering from National Taiwan University and earned his Ph.D. in aeronautics and astronautics from New York University in the United States.

Career

After receiving his Ph.D. at the age of 27, Chien taught in Tamkang University in Taiwan. In the following eleven years, he became a Professor and Chairman of the Department of Aeronautical Engineering and was subsequently promoted to be the Dean of College of Engineering in Tamkang University in 1978. Chien was presented with the “Outstanding Young Engineer of the Republic of China Award”, the “Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the Republic of China Award” in the 1970s and in 1985 he was recognized as the “Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World ” by both Osaka Jaycees, Japan and Jaycees International.

In 1982, he hosted a national broadcasting TV program High Technology, in which he introduced various advanced technologies across the world to increase the public's interests in this subject. The program was well received amongst the public reaching over 30% of all viewers and subsequently obtained the Golden Bell Awards in Taiwan.

Political and diplomatic career

In 1983, Chien was elected as a legislator (Member of Parliament) in Taipei City with the highest number of votes. He was re-elected again in 1986. Throughout his political career, Chien served three different presidents from two different major political parties in Taiwan.

Chien was appointed as the first Minister of the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) under Chiang Ching-kuo's presidency. In 1991, during Lee Teng-hui's presidency, he was appointed as the Minister of Transportation and Communications and Representative of Taipei Representative Office in the United Kingdom (Ambassador), and Senior Advisor of National Security Council.

In 1998 he was conferred an Honorary Fellowship by Cardiff University Wales, UK. In 2000, during President Chen Shui-bian's presidency, Chien was appointed as the Deputy Secretary General of the Office of the President and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Broadcasting career

In 2007, Chien founded Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy (TAISE). He has led a variety of activities both at home and abroad in order to raise public awareness on climate change and sustainable energy. As part of his efforts, he has started to host a weekend national radio show on Broadcasting Corporation of China (BCC), called When the Earth Comes Down with a Fever, in which he frequently discusses issues relating to climate change. In 2010, Chien was presented the "Global Views Environmental Heroes Awards" by Yahoo and Global Views Monthly. On 7 October 2024, Chien was appointed an ambassador-at-large by President Lai Ching-te.