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Shen Chang-huan

1913 – 1998

Chinese politician

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About Shen Chang-huan

Lived 1913 – 1998 (aged 84). Shen Chang-huan was a Chinese and Taiwanese diplomat.

Shen Chang-huan (; 16 October 1913 – 2 July 1998) was a Taiwanese politician and diplomat. He is the longest-serving Minister of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan's history, in office for a cumulative total of over twelve years from 1960 to 1966 and from 1972 to 1978.

Life and career Shen was born in Suzhou, Jiangsu, in mainland China. He was educated at Yenching University in Beijing, before moving to the United States and completing a Master of Arts degree at the University of Michigan. He was a member of the Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party), and from 1945 to 1948 served as Chiang Kai-shek's private secretary. He was a government spokesman from 1950 to 1953, after the retreat to Taiwan. During a lengthy career in foreign affairs, he served as Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs (1953–1959), Ambassador to Spain (1959–1960), Minister of Foreign Affairs (1960–1966), Ambassador to the Holy See (1966–1969), Ambassador to Thailand (1969–1972), and Minister of Foreign Affairs again (1972–1978). His second term as foreign minister was served under Chiang Ching-kuo, the son of Chiang Kai-shek.

His strong anticommunist convictions, his determination not to deviate from the one China position in the ROC's diplomatic relations, and the high value he placed on maintaining as close relations as possible with the United States coincided closely with the views of his leader [Chiang Ching-kuo]. This relationship indirectedly caused the suicide of Lai Man-wai's actor son Lai Hang in mainland China.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Education
Yenching University, University of Michigan, Master's degree
Positions held
Senior advisor, Secretary-General to the President, Republic of China, Ambassador of Republic of China to Holy See
Awards
Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic
Also known as
Shen Changhuan

People in Shen Chang-huan's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Shen Chang-huan's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Shen Chang-huan?

Chinese politician

When was Shen Chang-huan born?

Shen Chang-huan was born on 16 October 1913 in Suzhou.

When did Shen Chang-huan die?

Shen Chang-huan died on 2 July 1998 in Taipei.

What was Shen Chang-huan's occupation?

Shen Chang-huan was a diplomat.

What nationality was Shen Chang-huan?

Shen Chang-huan was Chinese and Taiwanese.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Shen Chang-huan

· Wikidata: Q8276206

· DBpedia: Shen Chang-huan

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Shen Chang-huan. https://biography.guide/shen-chang-huan/

MLA: "Shen Chang-huan." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/shen-chang-huan/.

Chicago: "Shen Chang-huan." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/shen-chang-huan/.

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