Joseph Wu

For the Chinese Roman Catholic bishop, see Joseph Wu Qinjing.

In this Taiwanese name, the surname is Wu.

Wu Jaushieh^[1] (Chinese: 吳釗燮; pinyin: Wú Zhāoxiè; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Ngô͘ Chiau-siat; born October 31, 1954), also known by his English name Joseph Wu, is a Taiwanese political scientist and diplomat currently serving as secretary-general of the National Security Council since 2024. He was formerly the foreign minister from 2018 to 2024 and secretary-general to the presidential office of Tsai Ing-wen from 2017 to 2018.

Wu Jaushieh
吳釗燮
Official portrait, 2024
15th & 19th Secretary-General of the National Security Council
Incumbent
Assumed office 20 May 2024
President	Lai Ching-te
Deputy	See list Lin Fei-fan Hsu Szu-chien Liu Te-chin
Preceded by	Wellington Koo
In office 20 May 2016 – 22 May 2017
President	Tsai Ing-wen
Deputy	See list Chen Chun-lin York Chen
Preceded by	Kao Hua-chu
Succeeded by	Yen Teh-fa
27th Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 26 February 2018 – 20 May 2024
Prime Minister	Lai Ching-te Su Tseng-Chang Chen Chien-jen
Deputy	Vice José María Liu, Miguel Tsao Deputy Hou Ching-shan, Kelly Hsieh Hsu Szu-chien, Tseng Hou-jen, Tien Chung-kwang
Preceded by	David Lee
Succeeded by	Lin Chia-lung
34th Secretary-General to the President
In office 22 May 2017 – 26 February 2018
President	Tsai Ing-wen
Deputy	Liu Chien-sin Yao Jen-to
Preceded by	Liu Chien-sin (acting)
Succeeded by	Liu Chien-sin (acting)
20th Secretary-General of the Democratic Progressive Party
In office 28 May 2014 – 24 May 2016
Chairwomen	Tsai Ing-wen
Preceded by	Lin Hsi-yao
Succeeded by	Hung Yao-fu
10th Ambassador of Taiwan to the United States
In office 10 April 2007 – 26 July 2008
President	Chen Shui-bian Ma Ying-jeou
Preceded by	David Lee
Succeeded by	Jason Yuan
7th Minister of the Mainland Affairs Council
In office 20 May 2004 – 10 April 2007
Prime Minister	Yu Shyi-kun Frank Hsieh Su Tseng-chang
Preceded by	Tsai Ing-wen
Succeeded by	Chen Ming-tong
Personal details
Born	(1954-10-31) October 31, 1954 (age 70) Dacheng, Changhua County, Taiwan
Political party	Democratic Progressive Party (since 2002)
Education	National Chengchi University (BA) University of Missouri (MA) Ohio State University (PhD)
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	吳釗燮
Simplified Chinese	呉钊燮
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Wú Zhāoxiè Gwoyeu Romatzyh Wu Jaushieh Wade–Giles Wú Chāo-hsièh Tongyong Pinyin Wú Jhaosiè Yale Romanization Wú Jāusyè IPA [tɕjàŋ tʰǐŋfǔ] Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Ng4 Ciu1-sit8 Southern Min Hokkien POJ Ngô͘ Chiau-siat

After earning his doctorate from Ohio State University, Wu became a political science professor. From 2007 to 2008, he was Chief Representative of Taiwan to the United States as the head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Washington, D.C., having been appointed to that position by President Chen Shui-bian to succeed his predecessor, David Lee, who was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs. On February 26, 2018, he succeeded Lee in that role as well.^[2]

Early life and education

Wu was born in Changhua, Taiwan, on October 31, 1954, After graduating from Taichung Municipal Taichung First Senior High School, Wu studied political science at National Chengchi University and graduated with his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in 1978. He then completed graduate studies in the United States, where he earned a Master of Arts (M.A.) in political science from the University of Missouri in 1982 and his Ph.D. in the subject from Ohio State University (OSU) in 1989 specializing in comparative politics and international relations.^[3]

As a graduate student at OSU, Wu worked as a staff researcher at the university's political research laboratory from 1984 to 1988 and as a teaching associate from 1988 to 1989. His doctoral thesis was titled, "Toward another miracle? Impetuses and obstacles in Taiwan's democratization," and was completed under professors Bradley Richardson, Richard Gunther, and Chang Hao.^[3]

Career

After receiving his doctorate, Wu was as a faculty member in the political science department of Ohio State University and was deputy director of the Institute of International Relations of National Chengchi University in Taiwan.^{[citation needed]}

Formerly the Deputy Secretary General of the Presidential Office for President Chen Shui-bian, Wu was appointed the chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council, the body charged with coordinating relations with mainland China (the People's Republic of China), by Chen in May 2004.^[4]

His appointment as Chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council proved somewhat controversial due to his reputation as a supporter of Taiwan independence, especially in light of the simultaneous appointment as foreign minister of former independence activist Mark Chen. His tenure as head of TECRO lasted one year and three months.^[5]

Cross-strait relations

On April 11, 2013, the ROC Cabinet approved a bill to establish a Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) branch office in mainland China and an Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) office in Taiwan. Wu - who was once the ROC Minister of Mainland Affairs Council - said that for the ARATS office to be established in Taiwan, it would need to have three prerequisites: the office should never evolve to become like the PRC Liaison Office in Hong Kong; the office's mandate must be clearly defined; and the officers must adhere to international diplomatic regulations.^[6]

In May 2021, he became the first person listed on the “diehard supporters of Taiwan independence” blacklist proposed by the Chinese government.^[7]

On November 5, 2021, Wu was sanctioned by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the People's Republic of China for "fanning up hostility across the Taiwan Strait and maliciously smearing the mainland".^[8]

Honors

• 2024 Order of Brilliant Star with Special Grand Cordon^[9]

Publications

Articles

• Defending Taiwan by Defending Ukraine, Foreign Affairs, May 9, 2024^[10]
• Strong US-Taiwanese ties needed to counter rising Chinese influence in the Pacific, The Hill, October 9, 2019 (co-authored with Cory Gardner)^[11]