Michael Tsai
{{Short description|Taiwanese politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Michael Tsai
| native_name = {{nobold|蔡明憲}}
| native_name_lang = zh-tw
| honorific-suffix = MLY
| image = 前國防部部長蔡明憲 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Tsai in June 2016
| order = 26th Minister of National Defense
| term_start = 25 February 2008
| term_end = 19 May 2008
| predecessor = Lee Tien-yu
| successor = Chen Chao-min
| order1 = Vice Minister of National Defense
| term_start1 = 9 June 2004
| term_end1 = 25 February 2008
| 1blankname1 = Minister
| 1namedata1 = Lee Jye
Lee Tien-yu
| order2 = Deputy ROC Representative to the United States
| term_start2 = April 2002
| term_end2 = 9 June 2004
| predecessor2 = Lee Ying-yuan
| alongside2 = Shen Lyu-shun
| successor2 = Stanley Kao
| 1blankname2 = Representative
| 1namedata2 = Chen Chien-jen
| order3 = Member of the Legislative Yuan
| term_start3 = 1 February 1996
| term_end3 = 31 January 2002
| constituency3 = Taichung
| order4 = Member of the National Assembly
| term_start4 = 1 February 1992
| term_end4 = 31 January 1996
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1941|8|9}}
| birth_place = Taichū Prefecture, Taiwan, Empire of Japan
| party = Independent
| otherparty = Democratic Progressive Party {{small|(until 2019)}}
| nationality = Taiwanese
| education = National Taiwan University (LLB)
University of Wisconsin—Madison (MBA)
California Western School of Law (JD)
}}
Tsai Ming-shian ({{zh|c=蔡明憲|p=Cài Míngxiàn}}; born 9 August 1941), also known by his English name Michael Tsai, is a Taiwanese politician and lawyer.
Education and academic career
Tsai earned his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from National Taiwan University before seeking further education in the United States, where he earned a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from California Western School of Law. For three years, he was a research fellow at the Center for Human Resources Development at San Diego State University. Tsai also practiced law in California, New York, and New Jersey before returning to Taiwan, where he taught law at National Taichung Institute of Technology and National Air University from 1991 to 2002.{{cite news|title=Dr. Michael M. Tsai 蔡明憲立委需您的支持關照|url=http://taiwanus.net/news/news/2008/200809120121431283.htm|accessdate=18 June 2016|publisher=TaiwanUS.net|date=3 January 2008}}{{cite news |title=Tsai Ming-shian (4) |url=https://www.ly.gov.tw/EngPages/List.aspx?nodeid=11302 |accessdate=1 July 2020 |agency=Legislative Yuan}}
Political career
Tsai returned to Taiwan in 1990, despite being placed on a blacklist compiled by the Kuomintang.{{cite news |last1=Huang |first1=Tai-lin |title=INTERVIEW: President a disappointment: ex-DPP member |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2019/05/01/2003714352 |accessdate=1 May 2019 |work=Taipei Times |date=1 May 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Strong |first1=Matthew |title=Taiwan ex-Defense Minister Michael Tsai leaves DPP |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3678783 |accessdate=30 April 2019 |work=Taiwan News |date=12 April 2019}} He later joined the Democratic Progressive Party.
Tsai was a member of the National Assembly from 1992 to 1996, then was elected to the Legislative Yuan twice in 1995 and 1998. While serving as a legislator, Tsai helped run Edgar Lin's 1993 campaign for the Taichung mayoralty, Chen Ding-nan's 1994 campaign for Taiwan provincial governor, and the legislative campaigns of Hung Chi-chang.{{cite news |title=Tsai Ming-shian (3) |url=https://www.ly.gov.tw/EngPages/List.aspx?nodeid=11078 |accessdate=1 July 2020 |agency=Legislative Yuan}} Tsai sought the Taichung mayoralty in 2001, and lost the election to Jason Hu.{{cite news|last1=Low|first1=Stephanie|last2=Lin|first2=Mei-chun|title=December 1 elections: Parties shift into attack mode|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2001/11/10/0000110909/2|accessdate=18 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=10 November 2001}} In April 2002, he was named deputy representative to the United States. On 9 June 2004, Tsai was sworn in as vice defense minister.{{cite news|last1=Lin|first1=Chieh-yu|title=Chen swears in Wu, other new top officials|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/06/09/2003174354|accessdate=18 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=9 June 2004}} He was named the Democratic Progressive Party candidate for Taichung 1 in 2008, and lost to Tsai Chin-lung in the January legislative elections.{{cite news|title=Legislative elections and referendums|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/images/2008/01/13/TT-970113-P04-IB.pdf|accessdate=18 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=13 January 2008}} Following the electoral defeat, Michael Tsai was promoted to Minister of National Defense in February 2008, after the resignation of Lee Tien-yu.{{cite news|last1=Wang|first1=Flora|last2=Chang|first2=Rich|title=Tsai sworn in as minister of defense|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/02/26/2003402875|accessdate=18 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=28 February 2008}}
While an active politician, Tsai wrote occasionally for the Taipei Times.{{cite news|last1=Tsai|first1=Michael|title=Military needs efficiency, not Aegis|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2000/04/23/0000033368|accessdate=18 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=23 April 2000}}{{cite news|last1=Tsai|first1=Ming-hsien|title=Peace in our time, or peace on our terms?|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2004/10/05/2003205663|accessdate=18 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|translator-last1=Bartholomew|translator-first1=Ian|date=5 October 2004}} After leaving politics, Tsai continued to advocate for stronger Taiwan–United States relations and has led the Taiwan United Nations Alliance.{{cite news|last1=Lowther|first1=William|title=US resolution supporting UN bid introduced|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/09/12/2003627534|accessdate=18 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=12 September 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Lowther|first1=William|title=Delegation urges US to sell weapons to Taiwan|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/03/13/2003641470|accessdate=18 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=13 March 2016}} He has proposed that Taiwan raise military spending.{{cite news|last1=Chen|first1=Wei-han|title=Ex-defense chief urges spending boost|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2018/01/22/2003686215|accessdate=22 January 2018|work=Taipei Times|date=22 January 2018}} After the Democratic Progressive Party chose to delay its 2020 presidential primary, Tsai denounced factionalism within the party and renounced his party membership in April 2019.{{cite news |last1=Peng |first1=Wan-Hsing |last2=Jonathan |first2=Chin |title=Michael Tsai quits DPP over delay of primary |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2019/04/13/2003713331 |accessdate=13 April 2019 |work=Taipei Times |date=13 April 2019}}
Controversy
In November 2007, while Tsai was vice defense minister, Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation won a bid to produce equipment for the Republic of China Armed Forces. Kuomintang legislator Tsai Chin-lung had reviewed military equipment, found the specifications to violate the contract terms, and ordered AIDC to suspend production. Michael Tsai and DPP lawmakers Ho Min-hao and Hsieh Ming-yuan along with AIDC chairman Lo Cheng-fang, accused Tsai Chin-lung of interference on behalf of SYM, the company that had lost the contract.{{cite news|last1=Chuang|first1=Jimmy|title=Lawmaker accused of pressuring MND|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/11/28/2003390201|accessdate=18 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=28 November 2007}} The Taipei District Court ruled in September 2011 that the claims against Tsai Chin-lung were unsubstantiated and ordered all four accusers to publish a public apology.{{cite news|last1=Chang|first1=Rich|title=Former minister ordered to pay KMT legislator|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/09/09/2003512838|accessdate=18 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=9 September 2011}}
In April 2009, Next Magazine reported that Tsai was responsible for selling military ranks during his tenure as Minister of National Defense. Tsai denied the allegations and sued the publishers for defamation.{{cite news|last1=Huang|first1=Shelley|title=Former deputy defense minister sues magazine|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/04/25/2003441973|accessdate=18 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=25 April 2009}} Tsai released his memoirs, God Bless Taiwan in April 2011.{{cite news|title=Missile could reach Beijing|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/04/28/2003501897|accessdate=18 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=28 April 2011}} Shortly before its official publication in 2013, Tsai was accused of leaking state secrets.{{cite news|last1=Wang|first1=Chris|title=Ex-minister denies leaking military secrets in memoir|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/03/18/2003557369|accessdate=18 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=18 March 2013}}
In August 2014, Tsai and Chiou I-jen were accused of violating the Classified National Security Information Protection Act. The Supreme Court found both not guilty in November 2015.{{cite news|title=Former officials found not guilty in military leak case|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/11/14/2003632435|accessdate=18 June 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=14 November 2015}}
References
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Category:Taichung Members of the Legislative Yuan
Category:Democratic Progressive Party Members of the Legislative Yuan
Category:Members of the 3rd Legislative Yuan
Category:Members of the 4th Legislative Yuan
Category:Ministers of national defense of Taiwan
Category:National Taiwan University alumni
Category: Wisconsin School of Business alumni
Category:California Western School of Law alumni
Category:20th-century Taiwanese lawyers