Nelson Ku
{{Short description|Taiwanese admiral, diplomat, and politician (1931–2007)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Nelson Ku
| native_name = {{nobold|顧崇廉}}
|native_name_lang = zh-tw
|honorific-suffix =
| image = Navy (ROCN) Admiral Ku Chung-lien 海軍上將顧崇廉.jpg
| imagesize =
| smallimage =
| caption =
| order = Member of the Legislative Yuan
| term_start = 1 February 2002
| term_end = 15 January 2007
| predecessor =
| successor = Lee Fu-tien
| constituency = Republic of China
| order1 = ROC Representative to the Netherlands
| term_start1 = April 1997
| term_end1 = October 2000
| predecessor1 =
| successor1 =
| order2 = Commander of the Republic of China Navy
| term_start2 = 16 April 1994
| term_end2 = 16 April 1997
| predecessor2 = Chuang Ming-yao
| successor2 = Wu Shih-wen
| order3 = Deputy Minister of National Defense
| term_start3 = 16 October 1993
| term_end3 = 1 May 1994
| predecessor3 =
| successor3 =
| 1blankname3 = Minister
| 1namedata3 = Sun Chen
| order4 = Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Republic of China Armed Forces
| term_start4 = 1 May 1992
| term_end4 = 16 October 1993
| predecessor4 =
| successor4 =
| 1blankname4 = Chief
| 1namedata4 = Liu Ho-chien
| order5 = Deputy Commander of the Republic of China Navy
| term_start5 = 1 October 1990
| term_end5 = 1 May 1992
| predecessor5 =
| successor5 =
| 1blankname5 = Commander
| 1namedata5 = Yeh Chang-tung
| order6 = Lieutenant Commander of the Republic of China Navy
| term_start6 = 1988
| term_end6 = 1 October 1990
| predecessor6 =
| successor6 =
| 1blankname6 = Commander
| 1namedata6 = Liu Ho-chien
Yeh Chang-tung
| order7 = Superintendent of the Republic of China Naval Academy
| term_start7 = 1 December 1986
| term_end7 = 1 September 1988
| predecessor7 =
| successor7 =
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1931|6|6}}
| birth_place = Shanghai, Republic of China
| death_date = {{death date and age|2007|1|15|1931|6|6|df=y}}
| death_place = Zhongzheng, Taipei, Taiwan
| party = People First Party {{small|(after 2001)}}
| otherparty = Kuomintang {{small|(until 2001)}}
| nationality =
| alma_mater =
| occupation =
| profession =
|nickname =
|allegiance = {{ROC}}
|branch = 25px Republic of China Navy
|serviceyears = 1954–1997
|unit =
|commands =
|battles = Third Taiwan Strait Crisis
|awards =
}}
Nelson Ku ({{zh|t=顧崇廉}}; 6 June 1931 – 15 January 2007) was a Taiwanese politician, diplomat and naval officer. He served in the Republic of China Navy from 1954 to 1997, retiring with the rank of admiral. He was a member of the Legislative Yuan from 2002 until his death.
Military career
Born Shanghai in 1931, Ku attended both the Republic of China Naval Academy and the United States Naval Academy, and entered the Republic of China Navy in 1954.{{cite news|title=Ku Chung-lien (5)|url=http://www.ly.gov.tw/en/03_leg/legIntro.action?lgno=00225&stage=5|access-date=7 June 2017|agency=Legislative Yuan}}{{cite news|title=PFP legislator passes away|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/01/16/2003344988|access-date=8 March 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=16 January 2007}} He became close to Chen Shui-bian while serving as deputy defense minister between 1993 and 1994.{{cite news|last1=Hsu|first1=Brian|title=Retired admiral chosen to chair Defense Committee|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2002/02/28/0000125733|access-date=8 March 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=28 February 2002}} As commander of the navy, a post he had assumed in 1994, Ku ended the Advanced Combat System, a program devised in the 1980s by Taiwan to develop a smaller version of the American-made Aegis Combat System.{{cite news|last1=Hsu|first1=Brian|title=Mini-AEGIS ship scheme reconsidered|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2002/12/26/0000188616|access-date=8 March 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=26 December 2002}} During his tenure, Ku reached an agreement with the United States Navy that allowed the Republic of China Navy use of American rescue vessels, if needed.{{cite news|last1=Hsu|first1=Brian|title=Navy speaks on sub-rescue pact|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/09/03/2003066304|access-date=8 March 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=9 September 2003}}
Political career
Ku became the Republic of China's representative to the Netherlands in 1997. Chen Shui-bian assumed the presidency in 2000, and due to the friendship between Chen and Ku, it was speculated that Ku would accept an appointment as minister of defense in the Chen administration, a post that went to Wu Shih-wen.{{cite news|last1=Hsu|first1=Brian|title=New minister of defense likely to come from navy|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2000/04/09/0000031594|access-date=8 March 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=9 April 2000}}{{cite news|last1=Hsu|first1=Brian|title=Tang Fei's right-hand man to assume post|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2000/04/11/0000031829|access-date=10 March 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=11 April 2000}} After three years as a diplomat, Ku was recalled and expected to retire.{{cite news|last1=Chu|first1=Monique|title=New blood to be infused into the diplomatic corps|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2000/10/19/0000057834|access-date=10 March 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=19 October 2000}} However, Ku was named to the People First Party proportional representation ballot in 2001. For accepting the nomination, he was expelled from the Kuomintang.{{cite news|last1=Low|first1=Stephanie|title=KMT kicks out seven, punishes four members|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2001/10/13/0000106884|access-date=8 March 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=13 October 2001}} He was strongly opposed to a 2002 proposal to acquire Kidd-class destroyers from the United States, favoring the purchase of Aegis-enabled vessels instead.{{cite news|last1=Hsu|first1=Brian|title=Legislators express reservations about purchase of Kidds|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2002/05/18/0000136535|access-date=8 March 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=18 May 2002}}{{cite news|last1=Hsu|first1=Brian|title=Navy must wait to get second-hand AEGIS ships|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2002/10/11/175243|access-date=8 March 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=11 October 2002}} Ku was critical of a separate plan to buy Standard SM-II missiles for over NT$40 million each.{{cite news|last1=Hsu|first1=Brian|title=Former navy chief pans plan to buy expensive missiles|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2002/10/10/0000171387|access-date=8 March 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=10 October 2002}}{{cite news|last1=Hsu|first1=Brian|title=Weather scales back exercise|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/01/23/0000192061|access-date=8 March 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=23 January 2003}} In 2003, Ku published a book about his naval career and joined the Friends of the PFP.{{cite news|last1=Hsu|first1=Brian|title=Admiral offers insights in book on navy career|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/01/0000204172|access-date=8 March 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=1 May 2003}}{{cite news|last1=Huang|first1=Tai-lin|title=Former military honchos join 'Friends of the PFP'|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/09/24/2003069005|access-date=8 March 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=24 September 2003}} The next year, two members of the United States House of Representatives proposed that Taiwan send the Republic of China Marine Corps to engage in the Iraq War, a move Ku believed to be unnecessary.{{cite news|last1=Chuang|first1=Jimmy|title=Marines take on a series of uncertainties|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/05/30/2003157517|access-date=8 March 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=30 May 2004}} He was involved in another discussion about the cost of arms procurement in October, over a set of special appropriations that cost NT$610.8 billion.{{cite news|last1=Wu|first1=Debby|title=Legislators scuffle over arms budget|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/10/13/2003206653|access-date=8 March 2017|date=13 October 2004}}{{cite news|last1=Ko|first1=Shu-ling|title=Special arms budget blocked by blues again|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/11/10/2003210424|access-date=8 March 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=10 November 2004}} Ku was again named a PFP at-large legislative candidate for the 2004 elections, and won.{{cite news|title=PFP names candidates|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/10/06/2003205746|access-date=8 March 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=6 October 2004}} In 2005, he voted against an arms procurement bill that sought to fund a $480 billion purchase of eight diesel submarines along with missile batteries and military aircraft, berating the government for its dependence on the United States.{{cite news|last1=Chang|first1=Rich|title=Navy seeks home for Kidd-class destroyer at Suao|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/03/14/2003246214|access-date=8 March 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=14 March 2005}}{{cite news|last1=Chang|first1=Rich|title=Agencies at odds over submarines|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/04/15/2003250524|access-date=8 March 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=15 April 2005}}
Ku was hospitalized in November 2006,{{cite news|last1=Wang|first1=Flora|title=Third presidential recall motion fails|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2006/11/25/2003337775|access-date=8 March 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=25 November 2006}} and died of lymphatic cancer at Tri-Service General Hospital on 15 January 2007, aged 75.
References
{{reflist}}
{{commons category|Ku Chung-lien}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ku, Nelson}}
Category:Republic of China Navy admirals
Category:Taiwanese people from Shanghai
Category:Republic of China politicians from Shanghai
Category:Deaths from cancer in Taiwan
Category:Members of the 5th Legislative Yuan
Category:Members of the 6th Legislative Yuan
Category:People First Party Members of the Legislative Yuan
Category:Party List Members of the Legislative Yuan
Category:Expelled members of the Kuomintang
Category:Representatives of Taiwan to the Netherlands