Edgar Lin Explained

Edgar Lin Chun-yi
Native Name Lang:zh-tw
Order:Director of the Coordination Council for North American Affairs
Term Start:17 August 2007
Term End:20 May 2008
Successor:Chu Wen-hsiang
Order1:ROC Representative to the United Kingdom
Term Start1:December 2004
Term End1:August 2007
Predecessor1:Tien Hung-mao
Successor1:Katharine Chang
Order2:ROC Ambassador to Gambia
Term Start2:August 2001
Term End2:December 2004
Successor2:Patrick Chang[1]
Order3:Minister of the Environmental Protection Administration
Term Start3:20 May 2000
Term End3:6 March 2001
Predecessor3:Tsai Hsun-hsiung
Successor3:Hau Lung-pin
Order4:Head of the
Term Start4:17 October 1995
Term End4:9 August 1997
Predecessor4:Chen Chin-yang
Successor4:Liu Shyh-fang
Order5:Member of the National Assembly
Term Start5:1 February 1992
Term End5:31 January 1996
Birth Date:1938 7, df=yes
Birth Place:Taihoku, Taihoku Prefecture, Taiwan, Empire of Japan
Party:Democratic Progressive Party
Nationality:Taiwanese
Occupation:Politician and diplomat
Profession:Environmentalist

Edgar Lin Chun-yi (; born 23 July 1938) is a Taiwanese biologist, environmentalist, diplomat and politician.

Early life and career

Lin studied English at National Taiwan University and earned a Ph.D. in ecology from the Indiana University. He remained in the United States for a time, working as a research fellow for the House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space and Technology.[2]

After his return to Taiwan, Lin taught at Tunghai University.[2] [3] Lin began participating in Taiwan's environmental movement in the 1980s. He became known as a "godfather" of the cause and was a noted anti-nuclear activist, later serving Greenpeace Taiwan as its president.[4] [5]

Political career

Lin ran in the 1989 legislative election for a Legislative Yuan seat in Taichung. His unsuccessful campaign was backed by the Democratic Progressive Party.[6] He was elected to the National Assembly in 1992. The National Assembly voted to block a set of reform proposals after its convocation. Alongside fellow DPP members Huang Hsin-chieh and Chen Yung-hsing, Lin walked out of the assembly on 4 May 1992, criticizing the body for procedural violations.[7] In September 1993, Lin accepted the DPP nomination as its candidate for the Taichung mayoralty.[8] Lin lost to, who secured a second consecutive term.

Lin led Taipei's while Chen Shui-bian was mayor.[2] Chen was elected president in 2000, and Lin was appointed minister of the Environmental Protection Administration by Premier Tang Fei in April, taking office with the rest of the cabinet on 20 May.[2] Shortly after joining the EPA, Lin renounced his opposition to nuclear energy, stating that he had held that stance largely to combat totalitarianism.[9] In October, Lin made his first trip to the United States in an official capacity and became the first EPA executive to include environmentalists as part of his contingent abroad.[4] The Amorgos oil spill occurred in January 2001, and the Executive Yuan was criticized for its delayed response.[10] [11] Subsequently, Lin resigned his position in March.[12]

In August of that year, Lin was named ambassador to The Gambia.[13] He served until December 2004, when he was sworn in as Taiwan's representative to the United Kingdom.[14] His first trip in the UK took place the next month.[3] While in the UK, Lin has spoken out against the One China principle, Anti-Secession Law, and one country, two systems.[15] [16] Instead, Lin proposed that the European Union pass its own version of the United States' Taiwan Relations Act.[17]

Notes and References

  1. News: New Taiwanese ambassador presents credintials. 13 December 2016. Office of the President of The Gambia. 27 January 2005. Archived version
  2. News: Jou. Ying-Cheng. Tang Fei returns to the political fray. 13 December 2016. Taipei Times. 30 April 2000.
  3. News: New envoy arrives in UK. 13 December 2016. Taipei Times. 9 January 2005.
  4. News: Chiu. Yu-Tzu. EPA meets with US counterpart in Hawaii. 13 December 2016. Taipei Times. 23 October 2000.
  5. News: Chiu. Yu-tzu. Greens uneasy over Lin joining the official fold. 13 December 2016. Taipei Times. 1 May 2000.
  6. Legislative Yuan still not fully representative . Taiwan Communiqué . September 1989 . 41 . 10 . 1027-3999.
  7. The DPP and Independents walk out . Taiwan Communiqué . June 1992 . 55 . 9 . 1027-3999.
  8. The Candidates . Taiwan Communiqué . September 1993 . 59 . 14 . 1027-3999.
  9. News: Chiu. Yu-Tzu. 'Father of anti-nuclear activists' singing a new tune. 13 December 2016. Taipei Times. 26 May 2000.
  10. News: Shan. Shelley. EPA wants ship's wreckage removed by April next year. 13 December 2016. Taipei Times. 13 December 2006.
  11. News: Low. Stephanie. Premier rejects minister's offer to resign over spill. 13 December 2016. Taipei Times. 1 March 2001.
  12. News: Huang. Joyce. Four new Cabinet officials appointed. 13 December 2016. Taipei Times. 6 March 2001.
  13. News: Lin Chun-yi appointed new ambassador to the Gambia. 13 December 2016. Taipei Times. 4 August 2001.
  14. News: Chen. Melody. Edgar Lin 'pursuing a colorful life'. 13 December 2016. Taipei Times. 20 December 2004.
  15. News: Taiwan's envoy to the UK blames 'one China' idea. 13 December 2016. Taipei Times. 11 March 2005.
  16. News: Taiwan diplomat shuns unification with China. 13 December 2016. Taipei Times. 18 March 2007.
  17. News: Huang. Jewel. Europe should make its own TRA, says top official to Britain. 13 December 2016. Taipei Times. 1 June 2007.