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Michael Tsai

Michael Tsai
Tsai Ming-hsien

MLY
蔡明憲
前國防部部長蔡明憲 (cropped).jpg
Tsai in June 2016
26th Minister of National Defense
In office
25 February 2008 – 19 May 2008
Preceded by Lee Tien-yu
Succeeded by Chen Chao-min
Vice Minister of National Defense
In office
9 June 2004 – 25 February 2008
Minister Lee Jye
Lee Tien-yu
Deputy ROC Representative to the United States
In office
April 2002 – 9 June 2004
Serving with Shen Lyu-shun
Representative Chen Chien-jen
Preceded by Lee Ying-yuan
Succeeded by Stanley Kao
Member of the Legislative Yuan
In office
1 February 1996 – 31 January 2002
Constituency Taichung
Member of the National Assembly
In office
1 February 1992 – 31 January 1996
Personal details
Born (1941-08-09) 9 August 1941 (age 75)
Taichū Prefecture, Taiwan, Empire of Japan
Nationality Taiwanese
Political party Democratic Progressive Party
Alma mater National Taiwan University
University of Wisconsin
California Western School of Law
Occupation politician
Profession lawyer

Michael Tsai (Chinese: 蔡明憲; born 9 August 1941) is a Taiwanese politician.

Tsai earned a bachelor's of law degree from National Taiwan University before seeking further education in the United States with a master's in business administration from the University of Wisconsin and a Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law. For three years, he was a research fellow at the Center for Human Resources Development at San Diego State University. Tsai also practiced law in California, New York, and New Jersey before returning to Taiwan, where he taught law at National Taichung Institute of Technology and National Air University from 1991 to 2002.

Tsai was a member of the National Assembly from 1992 to 1996, then was elected to the Legislative Yuan twice in 1995 and 1998. He sought the Taichung mayoralty in 2001, and lost the election to Jason Hu. In April 2002, he was named deputy representative to the United States. On 9 June 2004, Tsai was sworn in as vice defense minister. He was named the Democratic Progressive Party candidate for Taichung 1 in 2008, and lost to Tsai Chin-lung in the January legislative elections. Following the electoral defeat, Michael Tsai was promoted to Minister of National Defense in February 2008, after the resignation of Lee Tien-yu.

While an active politician, Tsai wrote occasionally for the Taipei Times. After leaving politics, Tsai continues to advocate for stronger Taiwan–United States relations and has led the Taiwan United Nations Alliance.

In November 2007, while Tsai was vice defense minister, Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation won a bid to produce equipment for the Republic of China Armed Forces. Kuomintang legislator Tsai Chin-lung had reviewed military equipment, found the specifications to violate the contract terms, and ordered AIDC to suspend production. Michael Tsai and DPP lawmakers Ho Min-hao and Hsieh Ming-yuan along with AIDC chairman Lo Cheng-fang, accused Tsai Chin-lung of interference on behalf of SYM, the company that had lost the contract. The Taipei District Court ruled in September 2011 that the claims against Tsai Chin-lung were unsubstantiated and ordered all four accusers to publish a public apology.


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