Yen Chia-kan

Yen Chia-kan (Chinese: 嚴家淦; pinyin: Yán Jiāgàn; Wade–Giles: Yen² Chia¹-kän⁴; 23 October 1905 – 24 December 1993), also known as C. K. Yen, was the second president of the Republic of China (Taiwan) from 1975 to 1978. A Kuomintang politician, he succeeded Chiang Kai-shek as the second president of the Republic of China on 5 April 1975,^[2] being sworn in on 6 April 1975,^[3][4] and served out the remainder of Chiang's term until 20 May 1978.

In this Chinese name, the family name is Yan.

C. K. Yen Yen Chia-kan
嚴家淦
Official portrait, 1976
2nd President of the Republic of China
In office 5 April 1975 – 20 May 1978
Premier	Chiang Ching-kuo[a]
Vice President	Vacant[b]
Preceded by	Chiang Kai-shek
Succeeded by	Chiang Ching-kuo
3rd Vice President of the Republic of China
In office 20 May 1966 – 5 April 1975
President	Chiang Kai-shek
Preceded by	Chen Cheng
Succeeded by	Hsieh Tung-min[b]
5th Premier of the Republic of China
In office 16 December 1963 – 29 May 1972
President	Chiang Kai-shek
Vice Premier	Yu Ching-tang Huang Shao-ku Chiang Ching-kuo
Preceded by	Chen Cheng
Succeeded by	Chiang Ching-kuo
Minister without Portfolio
In office 26 January 1950 – 24 December 1963
Premier	Chen Cheng Yu Hung-chun Chen Cheng
6th and 8th Minister of Finance
In office 19 March 1958 – 14 December 1963
Premier	Yu Hung-chun Chen Cheng
Preceded by	P. Y. Shu
Succeeded by	Chen Ching-yu
In office 12 March 1950 – 26 May 1954
Premier	Chen Cheng
Preceded by	Kuan Chi-yu
Succeeded by	P. Y. Shu
5th Chairman of the Taiwan Provincial Government
In office 7 June 1954 – 16 August 1957
Appointed by	Executive Yuan
Premier	Yu Hung-chun
Preceded by	Yu Hung-chun
Succeeded by	Chow Chih-jou
1st Minister of Vocational Assistance Commission for Retired Servicemen
In office 1 November 1954 – 24 April 1956
Premier	Yu Hung-chun
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Chiang Ching-kuo
5th Minister of Economic Affairs
In office 10 February 1950 – 16 March 1950
Premier	Chen Cheng
Preceded by	Hangchen Liu
Succeeded by	Cheng Tao-ru
Personal details
Born	23 October 1905 Suzhou, Jiangsu, Qing Dynasty
Died	24 December 1993(1993-12-24) (aged 88) Taipei, Taiwan
Resting place	Wuzhi Mountain Military Cemetery
Nationality	Republic of China
Political party	Kuomintang
Spouse	Liu Chi-chun
Children	9
Alma mater	St. John's University, Shanghai

Yen Chia-kan
Traditional Chinese	嚴家淦
Simplified Chinese	严家淦
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Yán Jiāgàn Wade–Giles Yen2 Chia1-kän4 Wu Romanization nyie cia/ka koe Southern Min Hokkien POJ Giâm Ka-kàm

Early life and education

He was born in Mudu, Wu County, Jiangsu province in 1905. He came from a prestigious Suzhou family, the Yan (Yen) Family of Dongshan (東山嚴氏).^[5] He graduated from Saint John's University in Shanghai with a degree in chemistry in 1926.^[6]

Political career

In 1931, Yen began serving as a manager of the Shanghai railway administration.^[7][6] Yen started to work as director of the finance department of Fujian Provincial Government in 1938.^[7][6] During his term, he initiated a policy of land tax payment for farmers with their agricultural produce. This policy was then adopted nationwide across China and contributed significantly for the nation food supply during World War II.^[8]

When he arrived in Taiwan in October 1945, Yen was appointed transportation director for the Taiwan Provincial Government. He was later named provincial finance director.^[7] From the provincial government, Yen was subsequently elevated to chairman of the Bank of Taiwan. In this position, Yen became known as "father of the New Taiwan dollar," as the currency was introduced in June 1949, during his tenure at the bank.^[7] Yen then served as Minister of Economic Affairs, minister of finance, and Governor of Taiwan Province. He became premier on 16 December 1963.^[9][10]

In 1966 the National Assembly elected Yen as Vice President and re-elected him in 1972.^[11][12] As vice president, Yen served as the most senior government official of the Republic of China to travel abroad, as Chiang Kai-shek had stated that he would not leave Taiwan until the Chinese Civil War was resolved by unification of the Republic of China.^[13] In May 1967, Yen toured the United States, during which he met US President Lyndon B. Johnson.^[13] On the afternoon of 5 January 1973, Yen visited Washington, D.C., and met with US President Richard Nixon.^[14] In December 1974, Yen traveled throughout Central America and the Caribbean, during which he attended the inauguration of Anastasio Somoza Debayle, who was starting his second stint as President of Nicaragua.^[15]

Yen became the second President following the death of Chiang Kai-shek.^[6] During his presidency, the Kuomintang worked on the "Chang'an Project" (長安計畫), which was to design, manufacture, and test defensive missiles.^[16][17] On 9 July 1977, he visited Saudi Arabia, becoming the first Republic of China president to visit another country after the government moved to Taiwan.^[7][18][19] On 20 May 1978, Yen resigned and was succeeded by Chiang's son, KMT Chairman and Premier Chiang Ching-kuo.

Yen served as chairman of the Council on Chinese Cultural Renaissance during his presidency.^[20] Though he wished to resign after leaving the presidency, the organization's bylaws were amended so that Yen could retain the post.^[20] He was also chairman of the board of the National Palace Museum until 1991.

Death

Yen had been bedridden since a brain hemorrhage in 1986. He suffered a second brain hemorrhage in 1992 and died at the Taipei Veterans General Hospital on 24 December 1993 the age of 88.^[21][22] He was buried at the Wuchih Mountain Military Cemetery in New Taipei City.^[7][23]

See also

• History of the Republic of China
• Politics of the Republic of China

Notes

1. After Chiang Kai-shek's death in 1975, Yen was the constitutional successor to the office of president. However, then-Premier Chiang Ching-kuo held power as the Chairman of the Kuomintang.
2. Yen succeeded to the presidency from the vice presidency, leaving the latter position vacant from 1975 to 1978.^[1]