Lin Chia-lung | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 林佳龍 | |||||||||
 Official portrait, 2024 | |||||||||
| 28thMinister of Foreign Affairs | |||||||||
| Assumed office 20 May 2024 | |||||||||
| Prime Minister | Cho Jung-tai | ||||||||
| Preceded by | Joseph Wu | ||||||||
| 38thSecretary-General to the President | |||||||||
| In office 31 January 2023 – 20 May 2024 | |||||||||
| President | Tsai Ing-wen | ||||||||
| Deputy | Alex Huang | ||||||||
| Preceded by | David Lee | ||||||||
| Succeeded by | Pan Men-an | ||||||||
| 27thMinister of Transportation and Communications | |||||||||
| In office 14 January 2019 – 19 April 2021 | |||||||||
| Premier | Su Tseng-chang | ||||||||
| Preceded by | Wang Kwo-tsai (acting) | ||||||||
| Succeeded by | Wang Kwo-tsai | ||||||||
| 2ndMayor of Taichung | |||||||||
| In office 25 December 2014 – 25 December 2018 | |||||||||
| Deputy | Lin Ling-san Pan Wen-chung | ||||||||
| Preceded by | Jason Hu | ||||||||
| Succeeded by | Lu Shiow-yen | ||||||||
| Member of the Legislative Yuan | |||||||||
| In office 1 February 2012 – 25 December 2014 | |||||||||
| Preceded by | Daniel Huang | ||||||||
| Succeeded by | Huang Kuo-shu | ||||||||
| Constituency | Taichung VI | ||||||||
| 11thSecretary-General of the Democratic Progressive Party | |||||||||
| In office 25 January 2006 – 15 October 2007 | |||||||||
| Chairman | Chen Shui-bian | ||||||||
| Preceded by | Lee I-yang | ||||||||
| Succeeded by | Cho Jung-tai | ||||||||
| 21st Director-General of theGovernment Information Office | |||||||||
| In office 20 May 2004 – 13 March 2005 | |||||||||
| Prime Minister | Yu Shyi-kun Frank Hsieh | ||||||||
| Preceded by | Huang Huei-zhen | ||||||||
| Succeeded by | Pasuya Yao | ||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||
| Born | (1964-02-13)13 February 1964 (age 61) | ||||||||
| Political party | Democratic Progressive Party | ||||||||
| Spouse | Liao Wan-ju | ||||||||
| Education | National Taiwan University (BA,MA) Yale University (MPhil,MA,PhD) | ||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 林佳龍 | ||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 林佳龙 | ||||||||
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Lin Chia-lung (Chinese:林佳龍;pinyin:Lín Jiālóng; born 13 February 1964) is a Taiwanesepolitical scientist and politician who has served asMinister of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan since 20 May 2024. He previously served asSecretary General to the President of Taiwan from 2023 to 2024.
Before entering politics, Lin graduated fromNational Taiwan University, earned three degrees fromYale University, and became a professor of political science atNational Chung Cheng University. As a member of theDemocratic Progressive Party (DPP), he ran in the2014 Taiwanese local elections and was elected asMayor of Taichung, serving from 2014 to 2018.
Lin was born inWanhua District,Taipei City, in 1964.[1] His father was a tailor fromMailiao inYunlin County who left his hometown to work in Wanhua. His mother was fromLukang,Changhua County.
After graduating fromTaipei Municipal Jianguo High School in 1982, Lin enrolled inNational Taiwan University (NTU) and graduated with hisBachelor of Arts (B.A.) inpolitical science in 1986 and his master's degree in political science from NTU in 1988.[2] As an undergraduate, he was an active student activist, serving as president of the NTU "Mainland Affairs Research Society," a smallKuomintang dissident group, and as a representative of the university'sstudent union.
In 1990, Lin was one of the co-leaders of theWild Lily student movement along withLuo Wen-jia andJulian Kuo. In 1991, while studying for his doctorate at NTU, Lin was awarded aFulbright Scholarship to complete graduate studies in the United States, where he earned aMaster of Philosophy (M.Phil.) in 1992, a secondMaster of Arts (M.A.) in 1993, and hisPh.D. in 1998, all in political science fromYale University.[3][4] His doctoral dissertation, "Paths to democracy: Taiwan in comparative perspective," was completed under political scientistJuan José Linz.[5]
Returning to Taiwan after graduating from Yale, Lin served on the faculty of the political science department atNational Chung Cheng University as an assistant professor from 1999 through 2004.[2] His research interests included thedemocratization of Taiwan, as well as the political and economic development of thePeople's Republic of China, and has written several books on the subjects.[6][7]
In the early 2000s, he served in various capacities in theExecutive Yuan under DPP PresidentChen Shui-bian.[8][9] Lin was appointed an advisor to the National Security Council in 2000, and to the position of cabinet spokesman in 2003.[10] Lin represented the government position in a debate against LegislatorKao Chin Su-mei, where he argued in favor of arms procurements which would be submitted toreferendum the following year.[11]
Due to his performance as cabinet spokesman, Lin was appointed director of theGovernment Information Office (GIO) by PresidentChen Shui-bian following his reelection in 2004.[12] In January 2005, Lin authorized a GIO program encouraging donations to provide financial support for orphans of the2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.[13] Controversy over the program later arose in August 2005, five months after Lin had left GIO, surrounding the delay in disbursing NT$400 million in donations to various charities and NGOs. Media reports suggesting that the program had been neglected in the transition between Lin and his successor at GIO, Pasuya Yao were denied by GIO, which promised the funds would be disbursed by September 5.[14]
Lin resigned from his position as GIO director in March 2005 to run as DPP candidate for mayor ofTaichung City.[15] In theensuing elections held in December 2005, Lin lost against incumbent MayorJason Hu by 87,075 votes (19.3%).[16] In 2014 Lin ran again against Hu and won by a landslide margin, over 200,000 votes.[17]
Lin was appointed DPP Secretary-General in January 2006, and Deputy Secretary-General to the President in October 2007.[2]
Lin defeated DPP legislatorTsai Chi-chang in a public opinion poll that served as the party's primary on 31 December 2013.[18] He was elected as theMayor of Taichung after winning theTaichung mayoral election on 29 November 2014, defeatingKuomintang (KMT) incumbentJason Hu.[19]
During his term, Lin oversaw "ProjectTaichung Port 2.0", coordinating with theMinistry of Transportation and Communications and theTaiwan International Ports Corporation to plan and enhance the port area, including preservation of Gaomei Wetland in the northern portion and commercial development in the southern portions. The opening ofMitsui Outlet Park Taichung Port was said to have attracted NT$910 billion (approximately US$30 billion) in investments over 4 years.[20][21]
Lin was re-nominated as the mayoral candidate in November 2017.[22] He was defeated by KMT candidateLu Shiow-yen.
Lin succeededWang Kwo-tsai on 14 January 2019 who was acting Minister ofTransportation and Communications. He resigned on 4 April 2021 in the aftermath of theHualien train derailment which killed at least 49 people,[23] stating that he would take full political responsibility for the crash and will leave once the rescue work ends.[24][25]
In January 2022, Lin was appointedambassador without portfolio in charge of promoting Taiwan's digitalNew Southbound Policy initiatives.[26] He is expected to serve in this role until May 2024.[27]
AfterLo Chih-cheng [zh] decided not to contest the New Taipei mayoralty in July 2022,[28] the DPP selected Lin as its candidate for the post.[29] Lin lost to then-deputy mayorHou Yu-ih in a landslide defeat in the general election.[30]
From 31 January 2023, Lin served in theChen Chien-jen cabinet asSecretary-General to the President.[31]
Lin was designated asforeign minister by president-electLai Ching-te on 11 April 2024, succeedingJoseph Wu.[32]
In August 2024, Lin and Joseph Wu (nowNational Security Council head) attended a closed-door security dialogue with United States officials through a "special channel." The format of the meeting was noted as a way to maintain communication between the two governments due to limits on contact allowed by the unofficial nature of Taiwan's relations with the U.S.[33]
In November 2024, Lin remarked that the Taiwanese government did not oppose the restoration ofLithuania's diplomatic relations withChina, following incoming prime ministerGintautas Paluckas's comments of doing so. Paluckas had stated his desire to repair relations with the Chinese government, who downgradeddiplomatic ties with Lithuania and imposed trade restrictions following the establishment of theTaiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania in 2021.[34]
Later that month, Lin embarked on a tour of European countries, includingBelgium, Lithuania, andPoland.[35] He attended a dinner ceremony marking the third anniversary of the establishment of the Taiwanese Representative Office inVilnius.[36]
Lin is married to Liao Wan-ju (廖婉如),[37][38] niece of Taiwanese businessman andChi Mei Corporation founderShi Wen-long.[39]
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Mayor of Taichung 25 December 2014 – 25 December 2018 | Succeeded by |
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| National | |
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