11 Facts About Chiang Hsiao-yen

Chiang Hsiao-yen or John Chiang, formerly surnamed Chang, is a Taiwanese politician affiliated with the Kuomintang.

Chiang Hsiao-yen is the speculated illegitimate son of Chiang Ching-kuo, former leader of the Republic of China, which would make him the grandson of Chiang Kai-shek.

Chiang Hsiao-yen and his identical twin brother, Winston Chang, both illegitimate, are believed to have been born the sons of Chiang Ching-kuo and his mistress Chang Ya-juo at the Second People's Hospital of Guilian, a public hospital in Guilin.

Chiang Hsiao-yen began his career in the foreign service, serving in the ROC embassy in Washington, DC, from 1974 to 1977.

Chiang Hsiao-yen was Administrative Vice Minister from 1986 to 1990, Director General, of the Overseas Affairs Department in 1990, and Political Vice Minister from 1990 to 1993.

Chiang Hsiao-yen was selected a member of the National Assembly in 1996.

Chiang Hsiao-yen was Foreign Minister from 1996 to 1997, vice premier in 1997, and Secretary-General of the presidential office in 1999.

Chiang Hsiao-yen's alleged mistress strenuously denied the allegations, filing suit against the newspaper which had named her.

Chiang Hsiao-yen served as the Chairman of Interior Affairs Committee while in the legislature.

In January 2006, Chiang Hsiao-yen declared his candidacy as a KMT candidate for the Taipei Mayor, but withdrew from the race in April, stating he did so for party solidarity.

The Memorial hall was later renamed, in a hotly controversial move, by the Executive Yuan, to the National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall, striking out the name of Chiang Hsiao-yen Kai-shek temporarily; the Memorial's name was restored on 21 August 2008.