Vincent Siew

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Vincent Siew
Premier of the Republic of China
In office September 1, 1997 – May 20, 2000
Preceded by	Lien Chan
Succeeded by	Tang Fei

Born	January 3, 1939 (age 68) Chiayi City
Political party	Kuomintang
Spouse	Susan Chu

Vincent C. Siew (蕭萬長 Pinyin: Xiāo Wàncháng, Wade-Giles: Hsiao Wan-chang) (born January 3, 1939) was the first Taiwanese-born Premier of the Republic of China (1997-2000) and former vice-chairman of Kuomintang (2000-2004).

Born in Chiayi City, Siew graduated from the Department of Diplomacy at National Chengchi University in 1961, and received a master's degree from the Graduate Institute of International Law and Diplomacy at National Chengchi University in 1965.

He worked at the ROC's Consulate General in Kuala Lumpur from 1966 to 1972, until the Republic of China left the United Nations (see China and the United Nations). He was named to the Central Committee of the Kuomintang in 1988. He was appointed was Minister of Economic Affairs from 1990 to 1993. As Chairman for Economic Planning Development, he represented President Lee Teng-hui, who was forbidden to attend personally, at the 1993 and 1994 annual APEC leaders' summits.

Siew was elected a member of the Legislative Yuan from 1996 to 1997. He was the KMT vice-presidential candidate in 2000 on the ticket of Lien Chan.

Siew is married to Susan Chu (朱俶賢 Zhū Xiánshú) with three daughters: Ru-ting (蕭如婷), Jia-feng (蕭如芬), and Jhih-you (蕭至佑 Zhìyòu).

Siew is currently chairman of the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research and the Chairman of the Cross-Straits Common Market Foundation. He resigned as KMT vice chairman and all other posts in the party before the December legislative elections. He had been criticised by the Pan-Blue Coalition for not taking a greater role in the Lien-Soong campaign and acting as convener for a private group of economic advisers for President Chen Shui-bian.