James Shen
Encyclopedia
James C.H. Shen was a Taiwan
ese diplomat
. Shen served as the last official Taiwanese
ambassador
to the United States
before the U.S. switched its diplomatic recognition
to the People's Republic of China
in 1979.
, which was located in Beijing
. He earned his Masters degree in journalism
at the University of Missouri
in 1935.
Shen worked as a reporter and editor
early in his career. He reported for media agencies throughout China
, Taiwan
and Hong Kong
.
Additionally, Shen began work as an analyst and commentator for the Chinese government. His early government positions included "section chief" of the Ministry of Information
's international department and as a department director for the Government Information Office
(GIO).
-Chinese language
interpreter and secretary for Chinese Nationalist
leader Chang Kai-shek. He was then appointed spokesman
for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and head of the GIO
.
Shen fled to Taiwan
with the Nationalists when Chang Kai-shek moved his government to Taipei following their defeat by Mao Zedong
's Communist forces in 1949. Shen served as Taiwan's ambassador to Australia
from 1966 until 1968 before returning to Taiwan to become vice minister of foreign affairs between 1968 and 1971.
James Shen was appointed as Taiwan's ambassador to the United States in 1971. Shen arrived in Washington D.C. to assume his post just month's before U.S. President Richard Nixon
visited mainland China
on an official visit. While in China, Nixon signed a communiqué
with Zedong's government. The communique officially created the United States's One-China policy
which acknowledged Taiwan as part of China, not as the legitimate government of all of China or an independent state. The communique was a huge blow to Taiwan's Nationalist government, which maintained that it alone was the sole legitimate government of all of China.
James Shen continued his efforts throughout the 1970s to persuade the United States to continue to recognize Taiwan and the Nationalists. The Nationalists and the United States had been important World War II
and Cold War
allies until the Nixon Administration. However, Shen's diplomacy proved in vain. The United States, under President Jimmy Carter
, officially severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1979 as part of its One-China policy.
James Shen returned to Taipei, in January 1979 and retired following the end of diplomatic relations with the U.S. He lived in Taiwan for the remainder of his life. He wrote a highly critical book about the US withdrawing its recognition of Taiwan, the event of which he was a first-hand witness.
Shen died at his home in Taipei on July 12, 2007, following a lengthy illness. He was 98 years old and was survived by his wife, Wei-yi Shen.
Since 1979, Taiwan no longer maintains an embassy in the United States, since there is no official diplomatic relations between the two countries. However, Taiwan continues to operate a series of representative offices, called the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office
s, in Washington D.C. and 12 other American cities.
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
ese diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
. Shen served as the last official Taiwanese
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
before the U.S. switched its diplomatic recognition
Diplomatic recognition
Diplomatic recognition in international law is a unilateral political act with domestic and international legal consequences, whereby a state acknowledges an act or status of another state or government in control of a state...
to the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
in 1979.
Early life
James Shen was born in Shanghai, China in 1909. Shen was educated at Yenching UniversityYenching University
Yenching University was a university in Beijing, China. It integrated three Christian colleges in the city in 1919. Yenching is an alternative name of Beijing - derived from its status as capital of Yan state, one of the seven Warring States from 5th century BC to 3rd century BC.The university...
, which was located in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. He earned his Masters degree in journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
at the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
in 1935.
Shen worked as a reporter and editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
early in his career. He reported for media agencies throughout China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
.
Additionally, Shen began work as an analyst and commentator for the Chinese government. His early government positions included "section chief" of the Ministry of Information
Ministry of Information
The term Ministry of Information may refer to the following:* Ministry of Information , part of the Cabinet of Egypt* Ministry of Information , part of the Cabinet of Equatorial Guinea...
's international department and as a department director for the Government Information Office
Government Information Office
The Government Information Office is a cabinet-level agency of the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China in charge of promoting government policies and regulating domestic media.-History:...
(GIO).
Diplomatic career
Shen served for a time as an EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
-Chinese language
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
interpreter and secretary for Chinese Nationalist
Chinese nationalist
Chinese nationalist can refer to:* Chinese nationalism* Kuomintang - Chinese Nationalist Party in Taiwan....
leader Chang Kai-shek. He was then appointed spokesman
Spokesman
A spokesperson or spokesman or spokeswoman is someone engaged or elected to speak on behalf of others.In the present media-sensitive world, many organizations are increasingly likely to employ professionals who have received formal training in journalism, communications, public relations and...
for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and head of the GIO
GIO
GIO is a computer bus standard developed by SGI and used in a variety of their products in the 1990s as their primary expansion system. GIO was similar in concept to competing standards such as NuBus or PCI, but saw little use outside SGI and severely limited the devices available on their...
.
Shen fled to Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
with the Nationalists when Chang Kai-shek moved his government to Taipei following their defeat by Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
's Communist forces in 1949. Shen served as Taiwan's ambassador to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
from 1966 until 1968 before returning to Taiwan to become vice minister of foreign affairs between 1968 and 1971.
James Shen was appointed as Taiwan's ambassador to the United States in 1971. Shen arrived in Washington D.C. to assume his post just month's before U.S. President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
visited mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
on an official visit. While in China, Nixon signed a communiqué
Communique
A communiqué is a brief report or statement released by a public agency.Communiqué may also refer to:* Communiqué , a rock band* Communiqué , 1979* Communiqué , 1987...
with Zedong's government. The communique officially created the United States's One-China policy
One-China policy
The One-China policy refers to the policy or view that there is only one state called "China", despite the existence of two governments that claim to be "China"....
which acknowledged Taiwan as part of China, not as the legitimate government of all of China or an independent state. The communique was a huge blow to Taiwan's Nationalist government, which maintained that it alone was the sole legitimate government of all of China.
James Shen continued his efforts throughout the 1970s to persuade the United States to continue to recognize Taiwan and the Nationalists. The Nationalists and the United States had been important World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
allies until the Nixon Administration. However, Shen's diplomacy proved in vain. The United States, under President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
, officially severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1979 as part of its One-China policy.
James Shen returned to Taipei, in January 1979 and retired following the end of diplomatic relations with the U.S. He lived in Taiwan for the remainder of his life. He wrote a highly critical book about the US withdrawing its recognition of Taiwan, the event of which he was a first-hand witness.
Shen died at his home in Taipei on July 12, 2007, following a lengthy illness. He was 98 years old and was survived by his wife, Wei-yi Shen.
Since 1979, Taiwan no longer maintains an embassy in the United States, since there is no official diplomatic relations between the two countries. However, Taiwan continues to operate a series of representative offices, called the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office
Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office
A Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office , sometimes known as a Taipei Economic and Cultural Office or a Taipei Representative Office , is a representative office, established by the Republic of China in countries that have diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China...
s, in Washington D.C. and 12 other American cities.