Chang Che-ping explained

Chang Che-ping
Native Name Lang:zh-Hant
Birth Place:Taoyuan, Taiwan
Office1:12th President of National Defense University
Term Start1:1 July 2021
Term End1:16 June 2022
Predecessor1:Wang Shin-lung
Successor1:Liu Chih-pin
Office2:13th Deputy Minister (Policy) of National Defense of the Republic of China
Term Start2:1 July 2019
Term End2:30 June 2021
Minister2:Chiu Kuo-cheng
Yen Teh-fa
Predecessor2:Shen Yi-ming
Successor2:Po Hung-hui
Office3:7th Commander of the Republic of China Air Force
Term Start3:1 March 2018
Term End3:30 June 2019
Predecessor3:Shen Yi-ming
Office4:Deputy Commander of the Republic of China Air Force
Term Start4:1 December 2016
Term End4:28 February 2018
Alma Mater:Republic of China Air Force Academy
National Defense University
Serviceyears:1982–
Unit:Commanding General of the Air Force
Ancestry:Lingling, Hunan

Chang Che-ping (born December 1958) is a Taiwanese military officer.

Career

Chang was born in Taoyuan, Taiwan. His parents move to Taiwan from Mainland China. His ancestral home from Lingling, Hunan. He completed his studies at the Republic of China Air Force Academy in 1982, later graduating from National Defense University in 1993. He led the 499th Tactical Fighter Wing in Hsinchu, and was appointed to lead the Air Force Combatant Command in 2015. Chang subsequently served as deputy commander of the Republic of China Air Force until his promotion to commander of the air force took effect on 1 March 2018.[1] On 1 July 2019, Chang succeeded Shen Yi-ming as vice minister of defense, and was placed in charge of policy.[2] Chang left his vice ministerial position to replace Wang Shin-lung as president of National Defense University on 1 July 2021.[3] [4]

Espionage probe

On 28 July 2021, Mirror Media reported that Taiwanese prosecutors were investigating Chang over his contact with a Chinese spy ring.[5] [6] The probe continued into August without Chang being formally named a suspect.[7] He was later renamed as a witness. In 2022, Taipei District Prosecutors Office charged retired major general Chien and retired lieutenant colonel Wei for developing a spy network for China, accusing the duo of unsuccessfully trying to recruit Chang.[8]

Notes and References

  1. News: Lu . Hsin-hui . Ko . Lin . Air Force gets new commander in Cabinet reshuffle . 2 July 2021 . Central News Agency . 26 February 2018. Alternative URL 1 and 2
  2. News: Shen Yi-ming takes top job . 2 July 2021 . Taipei Times . 3 July 2019.
  3. News: Yu . Matt . Chung . Yu-chen . Lim . Emerson . Taiwan's Army commander appointed new Chief of the General Staff . 2 July 2021 . Central News Agency . 24 June 2021. Republished in part as: News: Military reshuffle touted . 2 July 2021 . Taipei Times . 26 June 2021.
  4. News: Yu . Matt . Yeh . Joseph . Taiwan's new chief of the general staff takes office . 3 July 2021 . Central News Agency . 1 July 2021.
  5. Web site: Taiwan Former Vice Defense Minister Probed Over Links to China . Bloomberg.com . 29 July 2021 .
  6. News: Chien . Li-chung . Tu . Aaron . Chin . Jonathan . Ex-vice defense minister denies China link . 2 August 2021 . Taipei Times . 30 July 2021.
  7. News: Lin . Chang-shun . Mazzetta . Matthew . Former Air Force general suspected in Chinese spy ring out on bail . 19 August 2021 . Central News Agency . 19 August 2021. Republished as: News: Retired air force officers in spy case freed on bail . 20 August 2021 . Taipei Times . 20 August 2021.
  8. Web site: Times . The Thread . 2022-06-24 . Retired Taiwan general charged with spying for China . 2022-06-24 . The Thread Times . en.