Chen Li-an (Chinese: 陳履安; pinyin: Chén Lǚ'ān; born 22 June 1937), sometimes spelled Chen Lu-an, is a Taiwanese mathematician, economist, and former politician. He was the president of the Control Yuan from 1993 to 1995.

Early life and education

Chen was born in China in Lushan City, Jiangxi, on 22 June 1937. His ancestral home is in Qingtian County, Zhejiang. His father, Chen Cheng, was a prominent politician who was a general in the National Revolutionary Army under Chiang Kai-shek. After studying at the Affiliated Senior High School of National Taiwan Normal University, Chen was educated in the United States.

Chen graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in electrical engineering in 1960, then completed graduate studies at New York University, where he earned his Master of Science (M.S.) in mathematics and his Ph.D. in mathematics from the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences in 1968 under Hungarian-American mathematician Peter Lax. His doctoral dissertation was titled, "Solving Improperly Posed Problems by Mathematical Programming Technique".

Career

While he still considered the Kuomintang a "rotten party", Chen endorsed the KMT candidate Lien Chan in the 2000 ROC presidential election, believing that Lien was unlike the rest of the Kuomintang.

In January 2001, Chen re-joined the Kuomintang, because he thought both the party and Taiwan needed him.

1996 Republic of China Presidential Election Result
President CandidateVice President CandidatePartyVotes%
Lee Teng-huiLien ChanKuomintang5,813,69954.0
Peng Ming-minFrank HsiehDemocratic Progressive Party2,274,58621.1
Lin Yang-kangHau Pei-tsunIndependent1,603,79014.9
Chen Li-anWang Ching-fengIndependent1,074,0449.9
Invalid/blank votes117,160
Total10,883,279100

See also

Government offices
Preceded byLee Ta-haiROC Minister of Economic Affairs 1988–1991Succeeded byVincent Siew
Preceded byHau Pei-tsunROC Minister of National Defense 1991–1993Succeeded bySun Chen
Preceded byHuang Tzuen-chiouPresident of Control Yuan 1993–1995Succeeded byCheng Sui-Je (acting) Wang Tso-jung