Joseph Wu

For the Chinese Roman Catholic bishop, see Joseph Wu Qinjing.

In this article, the surname is Wu.

Joseph Wu Jau-shieh
吳釗燮
27th Minister of Foreign Affairs
Incumbent
Assumed office February 26, 2018
Premier	William Lai Su Tseng-Chang
Deputy	Hou Ching-shan Wu Chih-chung Kelly Hsieh, Hsu Szu-chien Tseng Hou-jen, Tien Chung-kwang
Vice	José María Liu Miguel Tsao
Preceded by	David Lee
Secretary-General to the President
In office May 22, 2017 – February 26, 2018
President	Tsai Ing-wen
Deputy	Liu Chien-sin Yao Jen-to
Preceded by	Liu Chien-sin (Acting)
Succeeded by	Liu Chien-sin (Acting) Chen Chu
Secretary-General of National Security Council
In office May 20, 2016 – May 22, 2017
President	Tsai Ing-wen
Deputy	Chen Chun-lin York Chen
Preceded by	Kao Hua-chu
Succeeded by	Yen Teh-fa
Secretary-General of the Democratic Progressive Party
In office May 28, 2014 – May 24, 2016
Leader	Tsai Ing-wen
Preceded by	Lin Hsi-yao
Succeeded by	Hung Yao-fu
Taiwan Representative to the United States
In office April 10, 2007 – July 26, 2008
President	Chen Shui-bian Ma Ying-jeou
Preceded by	David Lee
Succeeded by	Jason Yuan
Minister of the Mainland Affairs Council
In office May 20, 2004 – April 10, 2007
Premier	Yu Shyi-kun Frank Hsieh Su Tseng-chang
Preceded by	Tsai Ing-wen
Succeeded by	Chen Ming-tong
Personal details
Born	(1954-10-31) October 31, 1954 Dacheng, Changhua County, Taiwan
Nationality	Republic of China
Political party	Democratic Progressive Party (since 2002)
Other political affiliations	Kuomintang
Education	National Chengchi University (BA) University of Missouri, St. Louis (MA) Ohio State University, Columbus (PhD)
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	吳釗燮
Simplified Chinese	呉钊燮
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Wú Zhāoxiè Wade–Giles Wú Chāo-hsièh Tongyong Pinyin Wú Jhaosiè Yale Romanization Wú Jāusyè IPA [tɕjàŋ tʰǐŋfǔ] Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Ng4 Ciu1-sit8 Southern Min Hokkien POJ Ngô͘ Chiau-siat

Joseph Wu Jau-shieh (Chinese: 吳釗燮; pinyin: Wú Zhāoxiè; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Ngô͘ Chiau-siat; born October 31, 1954) is a Taiwanese politician currently serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China under current President Tsai Ing-wen since February 26, 2018. He was formerly the Secretary-General to the President of the Republic of China and the Secretary-General of the National Security Council of the Republic of China . From 2007 to 2008, he was Chief Representative of Republic of China to the United States as the head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Washington, D.C., having been appointed to that position by President Chen Shui-bian to succeed his predecessor, David Lee. On February 26, 2018, he took over the position of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, again succeeding David Lee.

Educational background

Prior to entering politics, he was an academic political scientist, finishing his PhD in political science in 1989 at Ohio State University. He wrote his doctoral thesis on progress and obstacles to democratization in Taiwan. He served as a teacher and research assistant in the political science department of Ohio State University in the United States, and as deputy director of the Institute of International Relations of National Chengchi University in Taiwan.

Rise in politics

Formerly the Deputy Secretary General of the Presidential Office for President Chen Shui-bian, Wu was appointed the chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council, the body charged with coordinating relations with Mainland China (the People's Republic of China), by Chen in May 2004.

His appointment as Chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council proved somewhat controversial due to his reputation as a supporter of Taiwan independence, especially in light of the simultaneous appointment as foreign minister of former independence activist Mark Chen. His tenure as head of TECRO lasted one year and three months.

Cross-strait relations

On April 11, 2013, the ROC Cabinet approved a bill to establish a Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) branch office in Mainland China and an Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) office in Taiwan. Wu - who was once the ROC Minister of Mainland Affairs Council - said that for the ARATS office to be established in Taiwan, it would need to have three prerequisites: the office should never evolve to become like the PRC Liaison Office in Hong Kong; the office's mandate must be clearly defined; and the officers must adhere to international diplomatic regulations.