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John Chang Wikipedia

John Hsiao-yen Chiang (Chinese language|Chinese: 蔣孝嚴, pinyin: Jiǎng Xi?oy?n) (born May 2, 1941), formerly John Hsiao-yen Chang (章孝嚴, Zhāng Xi?oy?n), is a Kuomintang politician in the Republic of China on Taiwan.

He and his twin brother, Winston Chang, were born the sons of Chiang Ching-kuo and his mistress Chang Ya-juo (章亞若) in Guilin amid the Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945)|Sino-Japanese War. Since they were born out of wedlock, the twins took their mother's surname, Chang, though they were given the Chiang generation name of Hsiao shared by all children of Chiang Ching-kuo.

Chang Ya-juo died when the brothers were one in August 1942, and they were raised by his Chang Ya-juo's younger brother, Chang Hau-juo (章浩若) and his wife Chi Chen (紀琛). Their uncle and aunt were listed as their birth parents on official documents until December 2002, when the true birth parents were listed. Chou Chin-hua (周錦華), the boys' maternal grandmother, and the 7-year-old brothers moved to Taiwan amid the Chinese Civil War. The Chang Brothers went to Soochow University (Taiwan)|Soochow University at the same time. John also obtained a M.S. from Georgetown University.

Chiang began his career in the foreign service, serving in the ROC embassy in Washington, DC from 1974 ro 1977. In the 1980s, he held various administrative posts in the ROC Foreign Ministry specializing in North American Affairs. He was Administrative Vice Minister from 1986 to 1990, Director General, of the Overseas Affairs Department in 1990, and Political Vice Minister from 1990 to 1993. In 1993 he was appointed to the Executive Yuan|cabinet-level post of Chairman of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission and served as a member of the KMT Central Standing Committee. He was seleced a member of the National Assembly of the Republic of China|National Assembly in 1996.

He was List of foreign ministers of the Republic of China|Foreign Minister from 1996 to 1997, vice premier in 1997, and Secretary-General of the President of the Republic of China|presidential office from 1999 to 2000. Since 2002, he has been a member of the Legislative Yuan. He represented the constitutency of Taipei City South from 2002 to 2005 and has represented Taipei City North since 2005. He is the Chairman of Interior Affairs Committee in the legislature.

With Helen H. Huang (黃美倫), he has two daughters, Hui-lan (惠蘭) and Hui-yun (惠筠), and a son, Wan-an (萬安). In March 2005, he officially changed his surname to "Chiang", saying, "The change represents a respect for history, a return to the facts, and a realization of my parents' wishes." He also announced that his children would follow suit.http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/03/08/2003245367

Last Modified:   2005-04-13