Tang Yao-ming

In this Chinese name, the family name is Tang.

Tang Yao-ming (traditional Chinese: 湯曜明; simplified Chinese: 汤曜明; pinyin: Tāng Yàomíng; 29 November 1940 – 3 November 2021) was a Taiwanese general officer. He was the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of China (ROC) from 2002 to 2004.

Tang Yao-ming
湯曜明
23rd Minister of National Defense of the Republic of China
In office 1 February 2002 – 19 May 2004
Deputy	Chen Chao-min Kang Ning-hsiang Lin Chong-pin
Preceded by	Wu Shih-wen
Succeeded by	Lee Jye
17th Chief of the General Staff of the Republic of China Armed Forces
In office 1 February 1999 – 31 January 2002
Preceded by	Tang Fei
Succeeded by	Lee Jye
Personal details
Born	(1940-11-29)29 November 1940 Muhō, Daiton, Taichū, Taiwan, Empire of Japan (today Wufeng, Taichung, Taiwan)
Died	3 November 2021(2021-11-03) (aged 80) Neihu, Taipei, Taiwan
Nationality	Republic of China
Political party	Kuomintang

Ministry of National Defense

Tang was named to the position of defense minister on 20 January 2002, making him the first person born on the island of Taiwan to have held the post.^[1]

2002 United States visit

In 2002, Tang visited St. Petersburg, Florida, United States to attend the U.S.-Taiwan Defense summit, making him the first ROC Minister of National Defense to visit the United States after the U.S. government ended official relations with Taiwan in 1979.^[2][3]

Death

Tang died, aged 80, on 3 November 2021, at the Tri-Service General Hospital.^[4]