Enoch Wu
吳怡農
Founder of Forward Alliance
Chairperson of the Taipei chapter of the Democratic Progressive Party
In office
9 February 2021 – 6 June 2022
Preceded byChen Cheng-teh
Succeeded byChang Mao-nan
Personal details
Born (1980-12-31) 31 December 1980
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
NationalityTaiwanese
Political partyDemocratic Progressive Party
Spouse
Yen Tsai-wei
​
(m. 2022)​
Alma materYale University

Enoch Wu (Chinese: 吳怡農; pinyin: Wú Yínóng; born 31 December 1980) is a Taiwanese policy advocate and former special forces soldier. Wu is the founder of Forward Alliance, a Taiwanese NGO focusing on national security.

Wu was born in Chicago, Illinois. He returned to Taiwan at the age of six and grew up in Taipei before attending high school in the United States. After graduating from Yale College, he worked at Goldman Sachs in Hong Kong. In 2013, he left the finance industry to pursue public service in Taiwan.

He served in the Taiwanese Army's Special Forces Command from 2014 to 2015. Following his national service, Wu joined Premier Lin Chuan's office to lead an interagency task force on Taiwan's security policies and served on the staff of Taiwan's National Security Council.

Wu ran for a legislative seat in Taipei's 3rd District in the 2020 general election, narrowly losing to the Kuomintang (KMT) incumbent Wayne Chiang. From February 2021 to June 2022, he served as the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)'s Taipei Chapter Chair.

In 2022, Time Magazine honored Enoch Wu in the Leaders category of the Time 100 Next, its annual global list of 100 individuals shaping the future of their fields and defining the next generation of leadership, for his work with Forward Alliance. In response, Wu shared the recognition with the volunteers, first responders, and NGOs partnered with Forward Alliance.[1]

On December 5, 2022, Wu announced that he had married his girlfriend in October.[2]

Early life and education

Wu was born on December 31, 1980, in Chicago, Illinois, while his father pursued a PhD in political science at the University of Chicago. His parents, Lin Huei-ying (林惠英) and Wu Nai-teh met in university.[3] Wu's father was a researcher at Academia Sinica, the preeminent academic institution in Taiwan, where he focused on political identity and transitional justice.[4] His mother had a career in advertising and now dedicates her time to an educational nonprofit.[5]

Education

Returning to Taiwan at age 6 after his father completed his PhD, Wu attended elementary and middle school in Taipei. In 1995, he moved to the United States for high school.[6] Wu studied at high schools in Illinois and Michigan before enrolling in Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire.[7]

Wu obtained his bachelor's degree in economics from Yale College in 2003.[8] While in college, he co-founded the Yale chapter of America Counts, a U.S. Department of Education initiative.[9]

Family and personal life

Wu was heavily influenced by his family and family friends' involvement in Taiwan's democratic movement.[10] While in graduate school, his father Wu Nai-teh was an editor for dissident magazines, including Formosa Magazine and The Movement Magazine, advocating for democratic reforms while Taiwan was under martial law. After obtaining his PhD and returning to Taiwan, Wu Nai-teh was refused employment for two years at Academia Sinica, the premier research academy, on the grounds of harboring "Taiwanese independence and subversive tendencies" despite unanimous faculty approval.[11]

Civic engagement was a significant part of his upbringing.[12] At just nine years old, Wu began joining his family in protests and citizen movements. In middle school, Wu collected signatures for a nuclear power plant referendum.[13]

Career before politics

After graduating from Yale College in 2003, Wu worked at Goldman Sachs in Hong Kong, primarily for the Special Situations Group, focusing on investment opportunities in Asia.[14][15] In 2013, Wu left Goldman Sachs to pursue public service in Taiwan.[16]

He served with the Taiwanese Army's Special Forces Command from 2014 to 2015.[17] Upon completing his national service as a corporal, he worked as a freelance journalist covering defense.[18]

Political activities

Government service

In 2017, Wu joined the office of Premier Lin Chuan, where he led an interagency task force to review Taiwan's protective security policies for government affairs.[19] From 2017 to 2019, Wu served on the staff of Taiwan's National Security Council, where his portfolio included homeland security and critical infrastructure protection.[20]

2020 legislative campaign

In the 2020 Taiwanese legislative election, Wu represented the DPP in Taipei's 3rd district against Kuomintang incumbent Chiang Wan-an.[21]

He ran on a national security platform, calling for reforms to national service, greater investment in military education, and accountability in defense spending.[22] Wu also advocated for the lowering of the voting age from 20 to 18.[23]

Wu received 99,539 votes and lost the election, 45.50% to Chiang's 51.44%, nearly upsetting the incumbent in a traditionally KMT district.[24][25]

2023 legislative campaign

Following Chiang's election as mayor of Taipei, a by-election was scheduled,[26] and Wu was named the DPP candidate for Taipei's 3rd district a second time,[27] Taipei City Councilor Wang Hung-wei ran for the open seat as the KMT candidate.[28] On January 8, 2023, Wu received 54,739 votes and lost the election.[29]

Democratic Progressive Party

From 2020 to 2021, he served as Deputy Director of the New Frontier Foundation, a think tank affiliated with the DPP.[30] From February 2021 to June 2022, Wu served as the Chairperson of the DPP's Taipei Chapter.[31]

Positions

Wu believes that national service must be reformed into a whole-of-society effort.[32] An outspoken advocate for civil defense, he believes that it requires all genders serving across all functions.[33]

Cautioning against over-reliance on authoritarian regimes, he also promotes economic diversification and emphasizes the necessity of a collective effort by all democratic countries to counter China.[34] Wu advocates for the creation of a regional security bloc.

Beyond security issues, Wu supports the Hong Kong democratic movement, LGBTQ+ rights, energy security, and tax reforms.[35][36]

Forward Alliance

Enoch Wu teaches a child to place a tourniquet on his father at a Forward Alliance workshop

In 2020, Wu founded Forward Alliance with the goal of improving Taiwan's national security through greater public awareness, policy advocacy, and civic participation.[37]

Disaster response and civil defense

To enhance civilian disaster response capabilities, Forward Alliance partners with domestic and international NGOs, including paramedic and firefighter associations.[38]

Forward Alliance's "iCanHelp" workshops train participants in emergency first aid (with a focus on severe trauma), search and rescue, and community safety and security.[39] Instructors come from the professional first responder community, including paramedics, firefighters, and police officers.[40]

Wu intends for these workshops to serve a dual purpose: build up a capability that can respond to disasters in peacetime, but also form the backbone of civil defense in case of conflict.[41]

Time 100 Next

Recognizing his work with Forward Alliance, Time Magazine selected Enoch Wu for the 2022 Time 100 Next.[42] Time commended, "Enoch Wu wants to give every Taiwan citizen the know-how to protect their community. As the threat level rises from Beijing…. Wu is providing civilians emergency-response training for both natural and man-made disasters." Wu extended the honor to Forward Alliance partners, including volunteers, first responders, and NGOs.[43]

References

  1. ↑ "Enoch Wu Time100Next Facebook". Facebook. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  2. ↑ "Enoch Wu denies marriage will lessen appeal to female voters in Taipei". Taiwan News. 2022-12-05.
  3. ↑ Admin5 (2020-02-12). "2244. Enoch Wu 吳怡農". History of Taiwanese American (T.A. Archives) 台美史料中心. Retrieved 2022-08-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ↑ "中央研究院社會學研究所 通信/兼任研究人員". www.ios.sinica.edu.tw. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  5. ↑ Admin5 (2020-02-14). "719. 吳怡農的生涯簡介/02/2020". History of Taiwanese American (T.A. Archives) 台美史料中心. Retrieved 2022-08-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ↑ Admin5 (2020-02-14). "719. 吳怡農的生涯簡介/02/2020". History of Taiwanese American (T.A. Archives) 台美史料中心. Retrieved 2022-08-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ↑ "Phillips Exeter Academy Class of 99". www.geocities.ws. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  8. ↑ Admin5 (2020-02-12). "2244. Enoch Wu 吳怡農". History of Taiwanese American (T.A. Archives) 台美史料中心. Retrieved 2022-08-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ↑ "Yale Bulletin and Calendar". archives.news.yale.edu. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  10. ↑ "人物專訪》為何急著拉下蔣萬安 吳怡農從小就體認到的一件事". tw.news.yahoo.com (in Chinese). 26 November 2019. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  11. ↑ Cozhere (1990-02-03), English: A newspaper clipping about Wu Nai-teh, retrieved 2022-08-09
  12. ↑ "人物專訪》為何急著拉下蔣萬安 吳怡農從小就體認到的一件事". tw.news.yahoo.com (in Chinese). 26 November 2019. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  13. ↑ "壯闊台灣 吳怡農 - 今天看到志工帶著小朋友一起來幫忙街講活動，讓我想起1994年。我13歲第一次擔任志工，在台北市街..." www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  14. ↑ Admin5 (2020-02-12). "2244. Enoch Wu 吳怡農". History of Taiwanese American (T.A. Archives) 台美史料中心. Retrieved 2022-08-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ↑ 陳柏樺、劉俞青 (2019-10-02). "高盛十年看清中國 吳怡農秀硬底拚選票 - 今周刊". www.businesstoday.com.tw (in Chinese). Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  16. ↑ "人物專訪》為何急著拉下蔣萬安 吳怡農從小就體認到的一件事". tw.news.yahoo.com (in Chinese). 26 November 2019. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  17. ↑ Admin5 (2020-02-14). "719. 吳怡農的生涯簡介/02/2020". History of Taiwanese American (T.A. Archives) 台美史料中心. Retrieved 2022-08-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ↑ Storm.mg (2019-09-18). "新新聞》「特戰男神」吳怡農：用經濟學觀點看國防是我的強項-風傳媒". www.storm.mg (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  19. ↑ "人物專訪》為何急著拉下蔣萬安 吳怡農從小就體認到的一件事". tw.news.yahoo.com (in Chinese). 26 November 2019. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  20. ↑ "人物專訪》為何急著拉下蔣萬安 吳怡農從小就體認到的一件事". tw.news.yahoo.com (in Chinese). 26 November 2019. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  21. ↑ "2020 Elections: KMT, DPP rising stars battle in Taipei legislative race - Focus Taiwan". focustaiwan.tw. 21 December 2019. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  22. ↑ "人物專訪》為何急著拉下蔣萬安 吳怡農從小就體認到的一件事". tw.news.yahoo.com (in Chinese). 26 November 2019. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  23. ↑ Thomas, Cat (2020-01-06). "Taiwan's Household Registration System Disenfranchises Its Young Voters". Ketagalan Media. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  24. ↑ "Enoch Wu loses Taipei's 'duel of hunks' to Chiang Kai-shek's great grandson". Taiwan News. 2020-01-12. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  25. ↑ 自由時報電子報 (2019-08-28). "民進黨徵召吳怡農 PK蔣萬安 - 政治". 自由時報電子報 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  26. ↑ Lai, Yu-chen; Lin, Sean (18 November 2022). "Legislative by-election to fill Chiang's slot slated for Jan. 8: CEC". Central News Agency. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  27. ↑ Wang, Flor; Liu, Chien-pang (30 November 2022). "DPP selects Enoch Wu to contest Taipei legislative by-election". Central News Agency. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  28. ↑ Liu, Chien-pang; Tseng, Yi-ning; Liu, Kuan-ting; Ko, Lin (2 December 2022). "Taipei City Councilor Wang Hung-wei to run for KMT in by-election". Central News Agency. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  29. ↑ "KMT's Wang beats DPP's Wu in Taipei legislative by-election". FOCUS TAIWAN. 2023-01-08.
  30. ↑ News, Taiwan (2020-12-29). "Enoch Wu mum on potential bid for Taipei's DPP chair | Taiwan News | 2020-12-29 12:20:00". Taiwan News. Retrieved 2022-08-09. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  31. ↑ Storm.mg (2022-04-06). "宣布不選民進黨北市黨部主委！吳怡農喊：盼黨務選舉回歸正向運作-風傳媒". www.storm.mg (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  32. ↑ Feng, John (2022-06-24). "Inspired by Ukraine, Taiwanese people prepare for a China invasion". Newsweek. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  33. ↑ "Second line of defence: Taiwan's civilians train to resist invasion". the Guardian. 2021-09-22. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  34. ↑ News, Taiwan (2020-01-08). "Enoch Wu says Taiwan can develop without China | Taiwan News | 2020-01-08 17:56:00". Taiwan News. Retrieved 2022-08-09. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  35. ↑ "Hong Kong protest film strikes a chord in Taiwan". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  36. ↑ Taylor, Jerome [@JeromeTaylor] (January 10, 2020). "Enoch Wu told me he was confident the ruling DPP would retain its majority in parliament. https://t.co/hM8MMlzALC" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 2022-08-09. Retrieved 2023-01-16 – via Twitter.
  37. ↑ Former soldier wants Taiwan ready for China attack. SBS Dateline. 2021-09-07. Archived from the original on 2022-08-28. Retrieved 2023-01-16 – via YouTube.
  38. ↑ Ferran, Lee (2022-03-10). "Ukraine offers Taiwan a wake-up call, and lessons in resistance". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  39. ↑ "Watching Ukrainians fight Russia, people in Taiwan facing threats from China are seeking out civil defense training". news.yahoo.com. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  40. ↑ Allen-Ebrahimian, Bethany (2022-07-26). "Taiwanese seek civil defense training after Russia's invasion of Ukraine". Axios. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  41. ↑ Allen-Ebrahimian, Bethany (2022-07-26). "Taiwanese seek civil defense training after Russia's invasion of Ukraine". Axios. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  42. ↑ "2022 TIME100 Next: Enoch Wu". Time. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  43. ↑ "Enoch Wu Time100 Next Facebook Post". Facebook. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
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