James Chih-Fang Huang (; born September 14, 1958) is a Taiwanese diplomat who served as the

Minister of Foreign Affairs A foreign affairs minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly minister for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations. The formal title of the top official varies between cou ...

from 2006 to 2008.

Education

Huang earned a bachelor's degree in political science from

National Taiwan University National Taiwan University (NTU; ) is a public research university in Taipei, Taiwan. The university was founded in 1928 during Japanese rule as the seventh of the Imperial Universities. It was named Taihoku Imperial University and served d ...

Political career

Huang began working for

Chen Chien-jen Chen Chien-jen (, born 6 June 1951) is a Taiwanese epidemiologist who served as the Vice President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) from 2016 to 2020. He joined the Chen Shui-bian presidential administration in 2003 as leader of the Departmen ...

in 1985, as Chen's secretary. Huang then became the English interpreter for

Lien Chan Lien Chan (; born 27 August 1936) is a Taiwanese politician. He was the Chairman of the Taiwan Provincial Government from 1990 to 1993, Premier of the Republic of China from 1993 to 1997, Vice President of the Republic of China from 1996 to 20 ...

and

Vincent Siew Vincent C. Siew or Siew Wan-chang (; born 3 January 1939) is a Taiwanese politician who served as the Vice President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) from 2008 to 2012. He was the first Taiwanese-born Premier of the Republic of China and former ...

. He joined the

Mainland Affairs Council The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) is a cabinet-level administrative agency under the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China in Taiwan. The MAC is responsible for the planning, development, and implementation of the cross-strait relations po ...

in 1999, and left in 2002, when he began working directly for President

Chen Shui-bian Chen Shui-bian (; born 12 October 1950) is a retired Taiwanese politician and lawyer who served as the president of the Republic of China (Taiwan) from 2000 to 2008. Chen was the first president from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) whic ...

. Huang began his tenure in the Presidential Office as a spokesman and was later promoted to deputy chief of staff. On 25 January 2006, Huang replaced

Mark Chen Mark Tang-shan/Tan-sun Chen (), born September 16, 1935, in Tainan Prefecture (now part of Tainan City), Taiwan, is a Taiwanese politician, former Secretary-General of the Office of the President of Taiwan under former President Chen Shui-bian. ...

as foreign minister. In June 2007, Huang submitted his resignation to President Chen following the severing of ties between

Costa Rica Costa Rica (, ; ; literally "Rich Coast"), officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( es, República de Costa Rica), is a country in the Central American region of North America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the no ...

and the

Republic of China Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast ...

. However, Chen rejected Huang's resignation. In May 2008, days before his term was to expire with the outgoing Chen administration, Huang resigned over the loss of public money equivalent to US$30 million during a controversial failed attempt to secure diplomatic ties with

Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...

Tsai Ing-wen Tsai Ing-wen (; born 31 August 1956) is a Taiwanese politician serving as president of the Republic of China (Taiwan) since 2016. A member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Tsai is the first female president of Taiwan. She served as ...

announced her intent to pursue a "southbound policy" during her 2016 presidential campaign. Huang became the first director of the

New Southbound Policy The New Southbound Policy () is an initiative of the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) under President Tsai Ing-wen that aims to enhance cooperation and exchange between Taiwan and 18 countries in Southeast Asia, South Asia and Austra ...

Office after Tsai took office as president. In January 2017, Huang was appointed as the Chairman of the

Taiwan External Trade Development Council The Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA; ) is a non-profit government co-sponsored trade promotion organization in Taiwan. It was founded in 1970 as China External Trade Development Council (CETRA). However, it changed its English ...

References

Living people 1958 births National Taiwan University alumni Taiwanese Ministers of Foreign Affairs Politicians of the Republic of China on Taiwan from Tainan {{Taiwan-politician-stub