Feng Shih-kuan

Feng Shih-Kuan
馮世寬
32nd Minister of National Defense
Assumed office
20 May 2016
Premier Lin Chuan
Preceded by Kao Kuang-chi
Personal details
Born (1945-11-25) 25 November 1945
Huai'an, Jiangsu
Nationality  Republic of China
Political party Kuomintang (suspended)
Alma mater Republic of China Air Force Academy
University of Southern California
Armed Forces University
Military service
Allegiance  Republic of China
Service/branch Republic of China Air Force
Years of service 1967-2006
Rank General

Feng Shih-kuan (Chinese: 馮世寬; pinyin: Féng Shìkuān) is a Taiwanese politician. He served in the Republic of China Air Force from 1967 to 2006, retiring with the rank of General before assuming the post of Minister of National Defense in 2016.

Early life

Feng completed his Chinese Air Preparatory School of the Ministry of National Defense in 1963. He graduated from the Republic of China Air Force Academy in 1967. He obtained his Flight Safety Officer Class from University of Southern California in the United States in 1977. In 1981, he completed his study from the Armed Forces University in the Chinese Air Command and Staff College in 1981 and in the Chinese War College in 1988.[1]

Non-military career

Feng was the Chairperson of the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation from 2006 to 2008.

Ministry of National Defense

Feng was named Minister of National Defense in April 2016, a month before the Tsai Ing-wen administration was to take office.[2][3] For accepting a post in a Democratic Progressive Party-led government, the Kuomintang suspended Feng's membership.[4][5]

Cross–Strait relations

Speaking at the Foreign and National Defense Committee of the Legislative Yuan on 23 May 2016, Feng said that he would not support the Taiwan independence movement.[6][7]

At 8:15 a.m. on 1 July, a Hsiung Feng III missile was inadvertently launched from a corvette docked at Zuoying Military Harbor.[8] The strike hit the Taiwanese fishing boat Hsiang Li Sheng, killing the captain and injuring three of his crew.[9] Feng arrived in Kaohsiung to deliver a personal apology to the fisherman's family the next day, but it was rejected.[10] Zhang Zhijun, leader of the Taiwan Affairs Office, also asked for Taipei to adequately explain the incident,[11] which was placed under investigation.[12]

References

  1. "Executive Yuan, R.O.C. (Taiwan)".
  2. "Lin taps future heads of defense, foreign affairs". Taipei Times.
  3. "New Taiwan appointments spotlight China ties, homegrown defense aims". Reuters. 15 April 2016.
  4. Strong, Matthew (24 May 2016). "KMT suspends 4 government officials". Taiwan News. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  5. Hsiao, Alison (22 June 2016). "Wang downplays talk about taking top post at SEF". Taipei Times. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  6. "'I would not support Taiwan independence': defense minister". China Post.
  7. "New minister's comments on independence draw fire". Taipei Times.
  8. "Probe after missile blunder in Strait". Taipei Times. 2 July 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  9. Pan, Jason (2 July 2016). "Fisherman killed in missile mishap". Taipei Times. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  10. "Minister apologizes to family". Taipei Times. 3 July 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  11. "China seeks explanation for navy missile launch". Taipei Times. 3 July 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  12. Pan, Jason (3 July 2016). "Judicial probe into missile launch continues". Taipei Times. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
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