James Shen served as the last official Republic of China ambassador to the United States before the US switched its diplomatic recognition to the People's Republic of China in 1979.
17 Facts About James Shen
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James Shen was born in Shanghai, Qing dynasty China, in 1909.
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James Shen was educated at Yenching University, which was located in Beijing.
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James Shen earned his master's degree in journalism at the University of Missouri in 1935.
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James Shen worked as a reporter and editor early in his career.
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James Shen reported for media agencies throughout China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
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James Shen fled to Taiwan with the Nationalists when Chiang Kai-shek moved his government to Taipei following their defeat by Mao Zedong's Communist forces in 1949.
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Additionally, James Shen began work as an analyst and commentator for the Chinese government.
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James Shen became the president of the then state-owned Central Motion Picture Corporation in 1963, and so has multiple film producer credits to his name.
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James Shen was then appointed spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and head of the GIO.
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James Shen served as Taiwan's ambassador to Australia from 1966 until 1968 before returning to Taiwan to become vice minister of foreign affairs between 1968 and 1971.
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James Shen was appointed Republic of China ambassador to the United States in 1971.
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James Shen arrived in Washington, DC, to assume his post just months before US President Richard Nixon visited mainland China on an official visit.
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James Shen continued his efforts throughout the 1970s to persuade the United States to continue to recognize Taiwan and the Nationalists.
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James Shen wrote a highly critical book about the United States withdrawing its recognition of Taiwan, the event of which he was a first-hand witness.
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James Shen died at his home in Taipei on July 12,2007, following a lengthy illness.
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James Shen was 98 years old and was survived by his wife, Wei-yi Shen.