Tang Yao-ming (traditional Chinese: 湯曜明; simplified Chinese: 汤曜明; pinyin: Tāng Yàomíng; 29 November 1940 – 3 November 2021) was a Taiwanese general officer. He was the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of China (ROC) from 2002 to 2004.

Tang Yao-ming
湯曜明
23rd Minister of National Defense of the Republic of China
In office
1 February 2002 – 19 May 2004
DeputyChen Chao-min
Kang Ning-hsiang
Lin Chong-pin
Preceded byWu Shih-wen
Succeeded byLee Jye
17th Chief of the General Staff of the Republic of China Armed Forces
In office
1 February 1999 – 31 January 2002
Preceded byTang Fei
Succeeded byLee Jye
Personal details
Born(1940-11-29)29 November 1940
Muhō, Daiton, Taichū, Taiwan, Empire of Japan (today Wufeng, Taichung, Taiwan)
Died3 November 2021(2021-11-03) (aged 80)
Neihu, Taipei, Taiwan
NationalityRepublic of China
Political partyKuomintang

Ministry of National Defense

edit

Tang was named to the position of defense minister on 20 January 2002, making him the first person born on the island of Taiwan to have held the post.[1]

2002 United States visit

edit

In 2002, Tang visited St. Petersburg, Florida, United States to attend the U.S.-Taiwan Defense summit, making him the first ROC Minister of National Defense to visit the United States after the U.S. government ended official relations with Taiwan in 1979.[2][3]

Death

edit

Tang died, aged 80, on 3 November 2021, at the Tri-Service General Hospital.[4]

References

edit
  1. ^ Hsu, Brian (10 January 2002). "Tang Yao-ming to get defense post". Taipei Times. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  2. ^ "Tang Yao-ming confirms he has been invited to US". Taipei Times. 24 February 2002. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  3. ^ "Taiwan's deputy defense minister to visit US: report". Space Daily. 23 November 2002. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  4. ^ Chung, Yu-chen; Kao, Evelyn (3 November 2021). "Former Defense Minister Tang Yao-ming passes away at 82". Central News Agency. Retrieved 29 November 2021. Republished by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission