Kao Hua-chu

Kao Hua-chu 高華柱
Minister of National Defense of the Republic of China
In office 9 September 2009 – 29 July 2013[1]
President	Ma Ying-jeou
Deputy	Chang Liang-jen, Chao Shih-chang Andrew Yang,[2]Chao Shih-chang[3] Andrew Yang, Kao Kuang-chi[4]
Preceded by	Chen Chao-min
Succeeded by	Andrew Yang
Minister of Veterans Affairs Commission of Executive Yuan
In office 20 May 2008 – 10 September 2009
Preceded by	Hu Chen-pu
Succeeded by	Tseng Jing-ling
In office 20 May 2004 – 9 February 2007
Preceded by	Teng Tsu-lin
Succeeded by	Hu Chen-pu
Personal details
Born	2 October 1946 (1946-10-02) (age 67)[5] Jimo, Shantung, Republic of China
Nationality	Republic of China
Political party	Kuomintang
Alma mater	Republic of China Military Academy R.O.C. Army Infantry School National Defense University

Kao Hua-chu (Chinese: 高華柱; pinyin: Gāo Huázhù) was the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of China (ROC). He was appointed to the post by then ROC Premier-designate Wu Den-yih on 9 September 2009.^[6] On 29 July 2013, Kao resigned from his post due to the death scandal of Corporal Hung Chung-chiu during his conscription on 4 July 2013.^[7]

Early life

1974 helicopter crash

In 1974, Kao involved in a helicopter crash in Taoyuan County with his colleagues, including Yu Hao-chang, the then-Commanding General of Army Command Headquarters. The accident involved two UH-1H helicopters crashed due to bad weather. It killed than 20 people and seriously injuring Kao, yet he still managed to carry Yu on his back while looking for help.^[8]

2009 Typhoon Morakot

A month after Typhoon Morakot brought the worst flooding and mudslides to Taiwan in 50 years, Kao was appointed as the leading deputy executive officer of the Morakot Post-Disaster Reconstruction Council of the Executive Yuan.^[9]

ROC National Defense Ministry

Kao in Legislative Yuan

2013 Korean crisis

Amidst the ongoing 2013 North Korean crisis, in mid April 2013 Kao said that the ROC Armed Forces is capable of intercepting missiles from North Korea and it doesn't pose any threat to Taiwan because the chance for Taiwan to be accidentally hit by the missiles is low. He further added that long-range radar installation in Hsinchu County could always detect any incoming missiles fired by North Korea before.^[10]

Dadan Island and Erdan Island demilitarization

Kao said that once ROC two outlying islands Dadan Island and Erdan Island have been demilitarized and are open to public within three years, he hoped that the Coast Guard Administration and other law enforcement agencies can take over the security for both islands. Currently those two islands are off to public due to its extremely close proximity (7 nautical miles) to PRC area, the coast of Xiamen.^[11]

Taiwanese fisherman shooting incident

After the shooting incident of Taiwanese fisherman by Philippine government vessel on 9 May 2013 at the disputed water in South China Sea, on May 11, 2013, Kao held a meeting with ROC President Ma Ying-jeou and ROC Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lin at the Presidential Office Building in Taipei in which the ROC government gave 72 hours for the Philippine government to give formal apology and bring those responsible for the shooting to justice, if not Taiwan will freeze Philippine worker applications, recall ROC representative to the Philippines back to Taiwan and ask the Philippine representative in Taiwan back to the Philippines.^[12]

Two ROC Air Force fighter aircraft crash

After the two incident involving two of ROC Air Force fighter aircraft in mid of May 2013 within five days apart involving an F-16 and Mirage 2000-5, Kao apologized to the public but asking their support for the moral of the pilots involved in the incident. He assured the public that all remaining aircraft in duty are all in good condition, and that the two crashes didn't compromise Taiwan's air defense.^[13]

See also

• Ministry of National Defense (Republic of China)
• Republic of China Armed Forces
• Veterans Affairs Commission

References