James C. H. Shen

James C. H. Shen began as a journalist and government information official before taking senior diplomatic posts. Educated at Yenching University and the University of Missouri, he served as secretary to Chiang Kai-shek, foreign ministry spokesman, director of the Government Information Office, ambassador to Australia, and vice minister of foreign affairs. ¹

In October 1971 he joined foreign minister Chow Shu-kai in a meeting with Henry Kissinger after the United Nations vote that displaced their government’s delegation. They discussed the relationship between Kissinger’s Beijing visit, the vote, and continued American ties with Taipei. ²

In September 1977, Shen questioned Secretary of State Cyrus Vance about proposals to exchange the American liaison office in Beijing for an embassy while reducing the mission in Taipei. He restated his government’s claim to represent China and warned that normalization could weaken Taiwan’s security. Vance said Washington intended to preserve essential relations with Taiwan’s people and was proceeding cautiously. Shen’s service ended when the United States established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic in January 1979. ^{3, 4}