Nelson Ku

Nelson Ku (Chinese: 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.

Nelson Ku
顧崇廉
Member of the Legislative Yuan
In office 1 February 2002 – 15 January 2007
Succeeded by	Lee Fu-tien
Constituency	Republic of China
ROC Representative to the Netherlands
In office April 1997 – October 2000
Commander of the Republic of China Navy
In office 16 April 1994 – 16 April 1997
Preceded by	Chuang Ming-yao
Succeeded by	Wu Shih-wen
Deputy Minister of National Defense
In office 16 October 1993 – 1 May 1994
Minister	Sun Chen
Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Republic of China Armed Forces
In office 1 May 1992 – 16 October 1993
Chief	Liu Ho-chien
Deputy Commander of the Republic of China Navy
In office 1 October 1990 – 1 May 1992
Commander	Yeh Chang-tung
Lieutenant Commander of the Republic of China Navy
In office 1988 – 1 October 1990
Commander	Liu Ho-chien Yeh Chang-tung
Superintendent of the Republic of China Naval Academy
In office 1 December 1986 – 1 September 1988
Personal details
Born	(1931-06-06)6 June 1931 Shanghai, Republic of China
Died	15 January 2007(2007-01-15) (aged 75) Zhongzheng, Taipei, Taiwan
Political party	People First Party (after 2001)
Other political affiliations	Kuomintang (until 2001)
Military service
Allegiance	Republic of China
Branch/service	Republic of China Navy
Years of service	1954–1997
Rank	Admiral
Battles/wars	Third Taiwan Strait Crisis

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.^[1][2] He became close to Chen Shui-bian while serving as deputy defense minister between 1993 and 1994.^[3] 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.^[4] 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.^[5]

Political career

Ku became the Republic of China's representative to the Netherlands in 1997.^[3] 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.^[6][7] After three years as a diplomat, Ku was recalled and expected to retire.^[8] However, Ku was named to the People First Party proportional representation ballot in 2001. For accepting the nomination, he was expelled from the Kuomintang.^[9] 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.^[10][11] Ku was critical of a separate plan to buy Standard SM-II missiles for over NT$40 million each.^[12][13] In 2003, Ku published a book about his naval career and joined the Friends of the PFP.^[14][15] 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.^[16] 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.^[17][18] Ku was again named a PFP at-large legislative candidate for the 2004 elections, and won.^[19] 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.^[20][21]

Ku was hospitalized in November 2006,^[22] and died of lymphatic cancer at Tri-Service General Hospital on 15 January 2007, aged 75.^[2]

References

1. "Ku Chung-lien (5)". Legislative Yuan. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
2. "PFP legislator passes away". Taipei Times. 16 January 2007. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
3. Hsu, Brian (28 February 2002). "Retired admiral chosen to chair Defense Committee". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
4. Hsu, Brian (26 December 2002). "Mini-AEGIS ship scheme reconsidered". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
5. Hsu, Brian (9 September 2003). "Navy speaks on sub-rescue pact". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
6. Hsu, Brian (9 April 2000). "New minister of defense likely to come from navy". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
7. Hsu, Brian (11 April 2000). "Tang Fei's right-hand man to assume post". Taipei Times. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
8. Chu, Monique (19 October 2000). "New blood to be infused into the diplomatic corps". Taipei Times. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
9. Low, Stephanie (13 October 2001). "KMT kicks out seven, punishes four members". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
10. Hsu, Brian (18 May 2002). "Legislators express reservations about purchase of Kidds". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
11. Hsu, Brian (11 October 2002). "Navy must wait to get second-hand AEGIS ships". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
12. Hsu, Brian (10 October 2002). "Former navy chief pans plan to buy expensive missiles". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
13. Hsu, Brian (23 January 2003). "Weather scales back exercise". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
14. Hsu, Brian (1 May 2003). "Admiral offers insights in book on navy career". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
15. Huang, Tai-lin (24 September 2003). "Former military honchos join 'Friends of the PFP'". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
16. Chuang, Jimmy (30 May 2004). "Marines take on a series of uncertainties". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
17. Wu, Debby (13 October 2004). "Legislators scuffle over arms budget". Retrieved 8 March 2017.
18. Ko, Shu-ling (10 November 2004). "Special arms budget blocked by blues again". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
19. "PFP names candidates". Taipei Times. 6 October 2004. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
20. Chang, Rich (14 March 2005). "Navy seeks home for Kidd-class destroyer at Suao". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
21. Chang, Rich (15 April 2005). "Agencies at odds over submarines". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
22. Wang, Flora (25 November 2006). "Third presidential recall motion fails". Taipei Times. Retrieved 8 March 2017.