George Liu
劉寬平
ROC Representative to Switzerland
In office
15 November 2007 – 16 August 2008
Preceded byRex Wang
Succeeded byHsieh Fa-dah
Member of the Legislative Yuan
In office
1 February 2005 – 15 October 2007
ConstituencyOverseas Chinese
Personal details
Born (1935-06-20) 20 June 1935
Tainan Prefecture, Taiwan, Empire of Japan
NationalityEmpire of Japan (1935–1945)
Republic of China (since 1945)
United States
Political partyTaiwan Solidarity Union (until 2008)
Alma materUniversity of Pittsburgh

George Liu Kuan-ping (Chinese: 劉寬平; born 20 June 1935) is a Taiwanese–American former politician and diplomat. He was a member of Taiwan's Legislative Yuan from 2005 to 2007, and served as Taiwan's representative to Switzerland from 2007 to 2008. After his resignation from the latter position, Liu was found to have held United States citizenship during his political career in Taiwan.

Early life and education

Liu was raised in Tainan. His father was a physician.[1] Liu moved to the United States and earned a master's degree in international administration from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.[2]

Political and diplomatic career

Liu served on the standing committee of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs.[3] In the 2004 Taiwanese legislative election, Liu was elected to represent overseas Chinese on behalf of the Taiwan Solidarity Union.[2] While serving on the Legislative Yuan, Liu remained affiliated with FAPA.[4] As a sitting legislator, Liu advocated for Taiwanese participation within the World Health Organization, stating in 2005, "Health issues are more important than trade. Looking back at the SARS situation in 2003, without Taiwan's aggressive actions, the epidemic might not have been contained,"[5] and traveled to Washington, D.C. in 2007 in continued support for the cause, declaring "This is not a political issue but an issue of human rights."[6] He also attended the 2007 Taiwan Transatlantic Dialogue and backed Taiwanese involvement in other intergovernmental organizations such as the United Nations.[7]

In June 2005, Liu began serving as one of four caucus whips for the Taiwan Solidarity Union, alongside Ho Min-hao, David Huang and Kuo Lin-yung.[8] In August 2006, Liu expressed support for Taiwan's capital to move from Taipei to a more southerly location, viewing such a move as an assertion of sovereignty.[9] Liu attended a fundraising event in January 2007, during which the Taiwan Association of University Professors announced that it was founding an online college.[10] Liu's final day as a member of the Legislative Yuan was 15 October 2007,[11] and the Central Election Commission retroactively annulled his election to office because he held United States citizenship during his term.[12][13] Questions regarding dual citizenship were also asked of Liu's former legislative colleague Diane Lee, who eventually resigned her seat.[14][15]

Liu was appointed Taiwan's representative to Switzerland in November 2007,[16] and began the process of relinquishing United States citizenship that year,[17] but by June 2008, had not yet lost his dual citizenship status.[18][19] Liu, who arrived in Switzerland to assume the position in February 2008,[19] offered his resignation in June and submitted a formal resignation letter in late July,[20][21] which was approved on 16 August.[22] As Liu was stepping down, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs determined that he had displayed a lack of political judgment in delaying a letter from Switzerland's Federal Department of Justice and Police in regard to inquires about money laundering by the Chen Shui-bian family.[21][23][22] Although his resignation had been approved by the Executive Yuan, the foreign affairs ministry also started an investigation into Liu for possible dereliction of duty.[22] The investigation was turned over to the Control Yuan,[24] which passed a resolution to impeach Liu for dereliction of duty on 30 September 2008.[25][26] The Central Executive Committee of the Taiwan Solidarity Union reached a decision to expel Liu from the party on 13 October 2008.[27] Governmental spokespeople separately asserted that Liu was the only political appointee within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to hold dual citizenship,[28] and that he was one of two officeholders within the Ma Ying-jeou presidential administration with dual citizenship.[29] An investigation into Liu's citizenship status continued into 2009.[30] On 22 May 2009, Taiwan's Central Election Commission determined that Liu had not renounced his American citizenship prior to contesting the 2004 legislative election, in contravention of the Civil Servants Election and Recall Act, and retroactively annulled his election to that office.[31]

References

  1. ↑ Liu, George (2010). "第一章、醫師父親 基督徒母親". 遊子傷漂泊: 臺美紳士劉寬平回憶錄 (in Traditional Chinese). New Taipei: 典藏世家創意文化出版. ISBN 978-9868441279. Archived from the original on 12 August 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  2. 1 2 "K. George Liu (6)". Legislative Yuan. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  3. ↑ Ko, Shu-ling (13 January 2002). "FAPA set to reaffirm its commitment". Taipei Times. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  4. ↑ Huang, Jewel (28 February 2005). "TSU threatens to quit the pan-greens". Taipei Times. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  5. ↑ Chiu, Yu-tzu (14 May 2005). "WHO lobby turning aggressive". Taipei Times. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  6. ↑ Tsao, Nadia (23 March 2007). "WHO 'interference' foils delegation's charm offensive". Taipei Times. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  7. ↑ Snyder, Charles (4 October 2007). "FAPA promotes US-EU-Taiwan dialogue". Taipei Times. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  8. ↑ "New caucus whips named". Taipei Times. 2 August 2005. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  9. ↑ "Green lawmakers want a southern capital". Taipei Times. 17 October 2006. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  10. ↑ "TAUP announces new Web college". Taipei Times. 20 January 2007. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  11. ↑ Wang, Flora (24 March 2010). "KMT's Justin Huang alleged to hold US citizenship". Taipei Times. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  12. ↑ Huang, Shelley; Wang, Flora (17 September 2009). "Diane Lee charged with fraud, forgery". Taipei Times. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  13. ↑ Hsu, Jenny W.; Loa, Iok-sin (24 July 2009). "DPP demands that commission rule on KMT councilor". Taipei Times. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  14. ↑ Wang, Flora (11 December 2008). "MOFA chief sued over citizenship inquiry results". Taipei Times. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  15. ↑ Wang, Flora (26 December 2008). "Diane Lee gives up authority, salary". Taipei Times. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  16. ↑ "New diplomats named". Taipei Times. 16 November 2007. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  17. ↑ Chang, Rich; Wang, Flora (25 December 2008). "Diane Lee still a US citizen: DPP". Taipei Times. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  18. ↑ Ko, Shu-ling; Shih, Hsiu-chuan; Wang, Flora (10 June 2008). "Nationality probe lists names". Taipei Times. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  19. 1 2 Loa, Iok-sin (28 June 2008). "CEC powers on citizenship issue limited". Taipei Times. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  20. ↑ "MOFA replaces envoys to Germany, New Zealand". Taipei Times. 31 July 2008. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  21. 1 2 "Taiwan's office in Switzerland showed 'lack of political judgment,' MOFA says". Taipei Times. 17 August 2008. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  22. 1 2 3 Hsu, Jenny W. (19 August 2008). "MOFA to investigate role of envoy in funds scandal". Taipei Times. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  23. ↑ Hsu, Jenny W. (20 August 2008). "MOFA refuses to give date for full report on delay". Taipei Times. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  24. ↑ Hsu, Jenny W.; Shih, Hsiu-chuan (22 August 2008). "MOFA tries to limit cash scandal fallout". Taipei Times. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  25. ↑ "監察院通過彈劾外交部駐瑞士代表處代表劉寬平" (in Chinese). Control Yuan. 30 September 2008. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  26. ↑ "Former envoy charged". Taipei Times. 1 October 2008. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  27. ↑ "台灣團結聯盟 – 台聯中執會二項人事決議案". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  28. ↑ "Envoy to Brazil resigns over residency dispute". Taipei Times. 20 June 2008. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  29. ↑ Shih, Hsiu-chuan; Hsu, Jenny W. (6 June 2008). "Green cards could be banned for officials". Taipei Times. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  30. ↑ "Combined election date set". Taipei Times. 26 February 2009. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  31. ↑ "台灣蘋果日報 – 劉寬平擁美籍 撤前立委資格". Apple Daily. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
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