Huang Shu-kuang explained

Honorific Prefix:Admiral
Huang Shu-kuang
Office1:Member of the National Security Council
Term Start1:5 September 2021
President1:Tsai Ing-wen
Lai Ching-te
1Blankname1:Secretary General
1Namedata1:Wellington Koo
Joseph Wu
Office2:28th Chief of the General Staff of the ROC Armed Forces
Term Start2:16 January 2020
Term End2:1 July 2021
Predecessor2:Liu Chih-pin (acting)
Successor2:Chen Pao-yu
Office3:7th Commander of the ROC Navy
Deputy3:Pan Chin-lung
Term Start3:1 June 2016
Term End3:15 January 2020
Predecessor3:Lee Hsi-ming
Successor3:Liu Chih-pin
Office4:Deputy Commander of the ROC Navy
1Blankname4:Commander
1Namedata4:Liu Chih-pin
Term Start4:1 March 2015
Term End4:31 May 2016
Predecessor4:Hsu Pei-shan
Successor4:Pan Chin-lung
Office5:6th Chief of Staff of the ROC Navy
1Blankname5:Commander
1Namedata5:Tung Hsiang-lung
Term Start5:1 August 2011
Term End5:31 March 2012
Predecessor5:Lee Hao
Successor5:Hsu Pei-shan
Birth Date:20 June 1957
Birth Place:Houli, Taichung, Taiwan
Relatives:Vivian Huang (sister)
Alma Mater:Republic of China Naval Academy
National Defense University
Branch:Republic of China Navy
Serviceyears:1979–2021
Rank:Admiral
Commands:Chief of the General Staff
Commander, Republic of China Navy
Deputy Commander of the Republic of China Navy
Chief of Staff of the Republic of China Navy
Office of Deputy Chief of the General Staff for Operations and Planning
Naval Fleet Command
Deputy Chief of the General Staff for Logistics
168th Fleet
256th Submarine Squadron
ROCS Hai Shih
Battles:Third Taiwan Strait Crisis

Huang Shu-kuang is a Taiwanese admiral, who served as the Chief of the General Staff of the ROC Armed Forces after the decease of General Shen Yi-ming. Prior to his appointment, Huang served as Commander, Republic of China Navy, Chief of Staff of the Republic of China Navy and as commander of the Naval Fleet Command.

Early Life and Education

Huang is a graduate of the Republic of China Naval Academy class of 1979, and took courses in the National Defense University, such as submarine command courses, the Naval Command and Staff in 1992, and the Strategic Command Course in 2001 at the National Defense University. [1]

Military career

During the 1990s, Huang was the captain of the ROCS Hai Shih.[2] In the mid-2000s, Huang was named commander of the 256th Submarine Squadron.[3] During his term as Commander of the 256th Submarine Squadron, Huang oversaw the delivery of the Hai Lung-class submarines from the Netherlands.[2] He next served as the ROCN's chief of staff.[4] Huang then led the ROCN's Fleet Command.[5] [6] [7] Soon after his appointment as commander of the Republic of China Navy, Huang, defense minister Feng Shih-kuan, and other military officers apologized for the killing of a dog on a military base.[8] [9] Soon after this incident, the Hsiung Feng III missile mishap occurred, followed by another round of apologies, during which he visited the home of Huang Wen-chung, the only victim of the incident, twice, first with Feng,[10] and then with president Tsai Ing-wen.[11] On the date of the incident, Huang was given a demerit.[12] [13] [14] In April 2017, Tsai issued Huang Shu-kang a warning, because naval officers had agreed to a contract the previous July to acquire Raytheon Phalanx closed-in weapons systems before the Legislative Yuan passed a budget to purchase them.[15]

In March 2017, Huang represented the ROCN in signing a memorandum of understanding with CSBC Corp., Taiwan and the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology for the latter two organizations to develop and build submarines for Taiwan's navy.[16] Huang received two admonitions in November 2017,[17] [18] following legal action against Ching Fu Shipbuilding Co. chief executive officer Chien Liang-chien, who stood accused of fraud relating to a contract signed with the ROCN in October 2014.[19] In October 2018, Huang was appointed convener of a task force formed to oversee development of an "Indigenous Defense Submarine."[20] Huang announced his resignation from the submarine program in April 2024.[21] [22] Huang denied any "political factors" resulting in his resignation, but also drew attention to unfair attacks on him and the submarine program.[23] [24]

In August 2018, Huang apologized to the family of Huang Kuo-chang, who died in June 1995 while serving in the Republic of China Navy.[25] [26]

On 15 January 2020, Huang was appointed and promoted as the Chief of the General Staff, succeeding Adm. Liu Chih-pin, who had taken over on an acting basis after the death of the last Chief of the General Staff Gen. Shen Yi-ming in a helicopter crash.[27]

Convener of the Indigenous Defense Submarine

In October 2018, Huang was named as the convener of the Indigenous Defense Submarine (IDS) program, which became later known as the Hai Kun-class submarine. As the convener of the program, Huang spearheaded the overall development of the submarines, which are set to conduct test runs in 2025.[28] On April 2024, Huang announced his resignation from the submarine program.[29] [30] Huang denied any "political factors" resulting in his resignation, but also drew attention to unfair attacks on him and the submarine program.[31] [32]

After a month of negotiations between Huang with then-President Tsai Ing-wen and then-President elect Lai Ching-te, Huang's resignation was rejected and will remain his position as the convener of the IDS program. Both Tsai and Lai expressed confidence and faith in Huang to continue leading the project to its completion, which is said to be vital for Taiwan's defensive capabilities.[33] [2]

Awards

Personal life

Huang’s ancestral home was in Xiangtan, Hunan. His family moved to Taiwan after the Chinese Civil War. His younger sister Huang Shan-shan has served as Taipei city councilor, deputy mayor, and on the Legislative Yuan.

Notes and References

  1. News: President Tsai appoints new Chief of the General Staff - Focus Taiwan . 19 February 2020 . focustaiwan.tw . zh-Hant-TW.
  2. Web site: Huang Shu-kuang to remain indigenous sub program convener under Lai - Focus Taiwan . Focus Taiwan - CNA English News . 14 May 2024.
  3. News: Chuang . Jimmy . FEATURE: Navy celebrates 20th anniversary for submarines . 15 January 2020 . Taipei Times . 30 December 2007.
  4. News: Su . Justin . Chang . S.C. . Navy questions CSBC's capability to build submarines . 15 January 2020 . Central News Agency . 14 March 2012. Republished as: News: Admiral questions CSBC's sub plan . 15 January 2020 . Taipei Times . 5 March 2012.
  5. News: Hou . Elaine . President attends Han Kuang live-fire drill off Taiwan (update) . 15 January 2020 . Central News Agency . 17 September 2014.
  6. News: Hou . Elaine . P-3C anti-submarine aircraft joins Han Kuang exercises for first time . 15 January 2020 . Central News Agency . 17 September 2014.
  7. News: Lin . Hsin-hui . Hsiao . Scully . Taiwan's first indigenous stealth corvette joins drill . 15 January 2020 . Central News Agency . 1 January 2015. Republished as: News: Pan . Jason . 'Tuo Jiang' joins naval combat exercise . 15 January 2020 . Taipei Times . 2 January 2015.
  8. News: Lu . Hsin-hui . Wu . Lilian . Dogs on military bases to be registered in wake of brutal killing . 15 January 2020 . Central News Agency . 28 June 2015.
  9. News: Lu . Hsin-hui . Hsu . Elizabeth . Apologies for dog abuse hurting military morale: KMT vice chair . 15 January 2020 . Central News Agency . 1 July 2016. Republished as: News: Military morale sapped after apologies, officials say . 15 January 2020 . Taipei Times . 3 July 2016.
  10. News: Wang . Shwu-fen . Hou . Elaine . Minister apologizes to victim's family for missile blunder . 15 January 2020 . Central News Agency . 2 July 2016. Republished as: News: Minister apologizes to fishing boat captain's family . 15 January 2020 . Taipei Times . 3 July 2016.
  11. News: Chen . Ja-fo . Wu . Lilian . President visits family of killed fishing boat captain . 15 January 2020 . Central News Agency . 4 July 2016.
  12. News: Chen . Chao-fu . Hsu . Elizabeth . Soldier fires missile without any supervisors present: Navy . 15 January 2020 . Central News Agency . 1 July 2016.
  13. News: Chen . Chao-fu . Tang . Pei-chun . Huang . Frances . Navy punishes officers for accidental missile firing . 15 January 2020 . Central News Agency . 1 July 2016.
  14. News: Lin . Hsin-hui . Liu . Kay . Poor discipline blamed for Navy's July missile accident . 15 January 2020 . Central News Agency . 29 August 2016.
  15. News: Lo . Tien-pin . Chin . Jonathan . Officers to be punished over arms deal . 15 January 2020 . Taipei Times . 5 April 2017.
  16. News: Lu . Hsin-hui . Kao . Evelyn . Taiwan signs MOU to build its own submarines . 15 January 2020 . Taipei Times . 21 March 2017.
  17. News: Lu . Hsin-hui . Liu . Lee-jung . Kao . Evelyn . Navy officers punished over controversial warship contract . 15 January 2020 . Central News Agency . 22 November 2017.
  18. News: Chin . Jonathan . MND censures 24 officers over Ching Fu . 15 January 2020 . Taipei Times . 23 November 2017.
  19. News: Chen . Ja-fo . Lu . His . Lu . Hsin-hui . Ko . Lin . Kaohsiung court rejects detention of former shipbuilder CEO . 15 January 2020 . focustaiwan.tw . Central News Agency . 20 November 2017.
  20. News: Pan . Jason . Submarine blueprints due by March: minister . 15 January 2020 . Taipei Times . 26 October 2018.
  21. News: Wang . Yang-yu . Chen . Chun-hua . Kao . Evelyn . DEFENSE/Submarine program chief reportedly offers resignation . April 18, 2024 . Central News Agency . April 16, 2024.
  22. News: Lo . Tien-pin . Chung . Jake . Submarine head's departure could impact program . April 18, 2024 . Taipei Times . April 17, 2024.
  23. News: Lin . Sean . Yu . Matt . DEFENSE/Defense minister defends estimated cost of indigenous sub program . 18 April 2024 . Central News Agency . 17 April 2024.
  24. News: Blanchard . Ben . Lee . Yimou . Submarine program remains on track despite resignation: defense minister . 18 April 2024 . Taipei Times . Reuters.
  25. News: Lo . Tien-pin . Chung . Jake . Admiral apologizes to mom for son's death in the navy . 15 January 2020 . Taipei Times . 4 August 2018.
  26. News: Yeh . Joseph . Navy offers mother of dead seaman long overdue apology . 15 January 2020 . Central News Agency . 6 August 2018.
  27. News: Yu . Matt . Lim . Emerson . President Tsai appoints new Chief of the General Staff . 15 January 2020 . Central News Agency . 15 January 2020.
  28. Web site: 蔡放手 黃曙光主導潛艦國造 .
  29. News: Wang . Yang-yu . Chen . Chun-hua . Kao . Evelyn . DEFENSE/Submarine program chief reportedly offers resignation . April 18, 2024 . Central News Agency . April 16, 2024.
  30. News: Lo . Tien-pin . Chung . Jake . Submarine head's departure could impact program . April 18, 2024 . Taipei Times . April 17, 2024.
  31. News: Lin . Sean . Yu . Matt . DEFENSE/Defense minister defends estimated cost of indigenous sub program . 18 April 2024 . Central News Agency . 17 April 2024.
  32. News: Blanchard . Ben . Lee . Yimou . Submarine program remains on track despite resignation: defense minister . 18 April 2024 . Taipei Times . Reuters.
  33. Web site: Retired navy admiral to stay on sub program - Taipei Times . www.taipeitimes.com . 16 May 2024.
  34. Web site: 嚴部長主持參謀總長布達 黃曙光履任新職 . www.ydn.com.tw.
  35. Web site: https://www.president.gov.tw/NEWS/28400.