Huang Shu-kuang (Chinese: 黃曙光) is a Taiwanese admiral, who served as the Chief of the General Staff of the ROC Armed Forces after the decease of General Shen Yi-ming. Prior to his appointment, Huang served as Commander, Republic of China Navy, Chief of Staff of the Republic of China Navy and as commander of the Naval Fleet Command.

Huang Shu-kuang
黃曙光
Official portrait, 2016
Member of the National Security Council
Assumed office
5 September 2021
PresidentTsai Ing-wen
Lai Ching-te
Secretary GeneralWellington Koo
Joseph Wu
28th Chief of the General Staff of the ROC Armed Forces
In office
16 January 2020 – 1 July 2021
Preceded byLiu Chih-pin (acting)
Succeeded byChen Pao-yu
7th Commander of the ROC Navy
In office
1 June 2016 – 15 January 2020
DeputyPan Chin-lung
Preceded byLee Hsi-ming
Succeeded byLiu Chih-pin
Deputy Commander of the ROC Navy
In office
1 March 2015 – 31 May 2016
CommanderLiu Chih-pin
Preceded byHsu Pei-shan
Succeeded byPan Chin-lung
6th Chief of Staff of the ROC Navy
In office
1 August 2011 – 31 March 2012
CommanderTung Hsiang-lung
Preceded byLee Hao
Succeeded byHsu Pei-shan
Personal details
Born (1957-06-20) 20 June 1957 (age 67)
Houli, Taichung, Taiwan
RelativesVivian Huang (sister)
Alma materRepublic of China Naval Academy
National Defense University
Military service
Branch/serviceRepublic of China Navy
Years of service1979–2021
RankAdmiral
CommandsChief of the General Staff
Commander, Republic of China Navy
Deputy Commander of the Republic of China Navy
Chief of Staff of the Republic of China Navy
Office of Deputy Chief of the General Staff for Operations and Planning
Naval Fleet Command
Deputy Chief of the General Staff for Logistics
168th Fleet
256th Submarine Squadron
ROCS Hai Shih
Battles/warsThird Taiwan Strait Crisis

Early life and education

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Huang is a graduate of the Republic of China Naval Academy class of 1979, and took courses in the National Defense University, such as submarine command courses, the Naval Command and Staff in 1992, and the Strategic Command Course in 2001 at the National Defense University. [1]

Military career

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During the 1990s, Huang was the captain of the ROCS Hai Shih.[2] In the mid-2000s, Huang was named commander of the 256th Submarine Squadron.[3] During his term as Commander of the 256th Submarine Squadron, Huang oversaw the delivery of the Hai Lung-class submarines from the Netherlands.[2] He next served as the ROCN's chief of staff.[4] Huang then led the ROCN's Fleet Command.[5][6][7] Soon after his appointment as commander of the Republic of China Navy, Huang, defense minister Feng Shih-kuan, and other military officers apologized for the killing of a dog on a military base.[8][9] Soon after this incident, the Hsiung Feng III missile mishap occurred, followed by another round of apologies, during which he visited the home of Huang Wen-chung, the only victim of the incident, twice, first with Feng,[10] and then with president Tsai Ing-wen.[11] On the date of the incident, Huang was given a demerit.[12][13][14] In April 2017, Tsai issued Huang Shu-kang a warning, because naval officers had agreed to a contract the previous July to acquire Raytheon Phalanx closed-in weapons systems before the Legislative Yuan passed a budget to purchase them.[15]

In March 2017, Huang represented the ROCN in signing a memorandum of understanding with CSBC Corp., Taiwan and the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology for the latter two organizations to develop and build submarines for Taiwan's navy.[16] Huang received two admonitions in November 2017,[17][18] following legal action against Ching Fu Shipbuilding Co. chief executive officer Chien Liang-chien, who stood accused of fraud relating to a contract signed with the ROCN in October 2014.[19] In October 2018, Huang was appointed convener of a task force formed to oversee development of an "Indigenous Defense Submarine."[20] Huang announced his resignation from the submarine program in April 2024.[21][22] Huang denied any "political factors" resulting in his resignation, but also drew attention to unfair attacks on him and the submarine program.[23][24]

In August 2018, Huang apologized to the family of Huang Kuo-chang, who died in June 1995 while serving in the Republic of China Navy.[25][26]

On 15 January 2020, Huang was appointed and promoted as the Chief of the General Staff, succeeding Adm. Liu Chih-pin, who had taken over on an acting basis after the death of the last Chief of the General Staff Gen. Shen Yi-ming in a helicopter crash.[27]

Convener of the Indigenous Defense Submarine

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In October 2018, Huang was named as the convener of the Indigenous Defense Submarine (IDS) program, which became later known as the Hai Kun-class submarine. As the convener of the program, Huang spearheaded the overall development of the submarines, which are set to conduct test runs in 2025.[28] In April 2024, Huang announced his resignation from the submarine program.[29][30] Huang denied any "political factors" resulting in his resignation, but also drew attention to unfair attacks on him and the submarine program.[31][32]

After a month of negotiations between Huang with then-President Tsai Ing-wen and then-President elect Lai Ching-te, Huang's resignation was rejected and will remain his position as the convener of the IDS program. Both Tsai and Lai expressed confidence and faith in Huang to continue leading the project to its completion, which is said to be vital for Taiwan's defensive capabilities.[33] [2]

Awards

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Personal life

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Huang’s ancestral home was in Xiangtan, Hunan. His family moved to Taiwan after the Chinese Civil War. His younger sister Huang Shan-shan has served as Taipei city councilor, deputy mayor, and on the Legislative Yuan.

Footnotes

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  1. ^ "President Tsai appoints new Chief of the General Staff - Focus Taiwan". focustaiwan.tw (in Chinese). Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Huang Shu-kuang to remain indigenous sub program convener under Lai - Focus Taiwan". Focus Taiwan - CNA English News. 14 May 2024.
  3. ^ Chuang, Jimmy (30 December 2007). "FEATURE: Navy celebrates 20th anniversary for submarines". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  4. ^ Su, Justin; Chang, S.C. (14 March 2012). "Navy questions CSBC's capability to build submarines". Central News Agency. Retrieved 15 January 2020. Republished as: "Admiral questions CSBC's sub plan". Taipei Times. 5 March 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  5. ^ Hou, Elaine (17 September 2014). "President attends Han Kuang live-fire drill off Taiwan (update)". Central News Agency. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  6. ^ Hou, Elaine (17 September 2014). "P-3C anti-submarine aircraft joins Han Kuang exercises for first time". Central News Agency. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  7. ^ Lin, Hsin-hui; Hsiao, Scully (1 January 2015). "Taiwan's first indigenous stealth corvette joins drill". Central News Agency. Retrieved 15 January 2020. Republished as: Pan, Jason (2 January 2015). "'Tuo Jiang' joins naval combat exercise". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  8. ^ Lu, Hsin-hui; Wu, Lilian (28 June 2015). "Dogs on military bases to be registered in wake of brutal killing". Central News Agency. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  9. ^ Lu, Hsin-hui; Hsu, Elizabeth (1 July 2016). "Apologies for dog abuse hurting military morale: KMT vice chair". Central News Agency. Retrieved 15 January 2020. Republished as: "Military morale sapped after apologies, officials say". Taipei Times. 3 July 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  10. ^ Wang, Shwu-fen; Hou, Elaine (2 July 2016). "Minister apologizes to victim's family for missile blunder". Central News Agency. Retrieved 15 January 2020. Republished as: "Minister apologizes to fishing boat captain's family". Taipei Times. 3 July 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  11. ^ Chen, Ja-fo; Wu, Lilian (4 July 2016). "President visits family of killed fishing boat captain". Central News Agency. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  12. ^ Chen, Chao-fu; Hsu, Elizabeth (1 July 2016). "Soldier fires missile without any supervisors present: Navy". Central News Agency. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  13. ^ Chen, Chao-fu; Tang, Pei-chun; Huang, Frances (1 July 2016). "Navy punishes officers for accidental missile firing". Central News Agency. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  14. ^ Lin, Hsin-hui; Liu, Kay (29 August 2016). "Poor discipline blamed for Navy's July missile accident". Central News Agency. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  15. ^ Lo, Tien-pin; Chin, Jonathan (5 April 2017). "Officers to be punished over arms deal". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  16. ^ Lu, Hsin-hui; Kao, Evelyn (21 March 2017). "Taiwan signs MOU to build its own submarines". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  17. ^ Lu, Hsin-hui; Liu, Lee-jung; Kao, Evelyn (22 November 2017). "Navy officers punished over controversial warship contract". Central News Agency. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  18. ^ Chin, Jonathan (23 November 2017). "MND censures 24 officers over Ching Fu". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  19. ^ Chen, Ja-fo; Lu, His; Lu, Hsin-hui; Ko, Lin (20 November 2017). "Kaohsiung court rejects detention of former shipbuilder CEO". focustaiwan.tw. Central News Agency. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  20. ^ Pan, Jason (26 October 2018). "Submarine blueprints due by March: minister". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  21. ^ Wang, Yang-yu; Chen, Chun-hua; Kao, Evelyn (April 16, 2024). "DEFENSE/Submarine program chief reportedly offers resignation". Central News Agency. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  22. ^ Lo, Tien-pin; Chung, Jake (April 17, 2024). "Submarine head's departure could impact program". Taipei Times. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  23. ^ Lin, Sean; Yu, Matt (17 April 2024). "DEFENSE/Defense minister defends estimated cost of indigenous sub program". Central News Agency. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  24. ^ Blanchard, Ben; Lee, Yimou. "Submarine program remains on track despite resignation: defense minister". Taipei Times. Reuters. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  25. ^ Lo, Tien-pin; Chung, Jake (4 August 2018). "Admiral apologizes to mom for son's death in the navy". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  26. ^ Yeh, Joseph (6 August 2018). "Navy offers mother of dead seaman long overdue apology". Central News Agency. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  27. ^ Yu, Matt; Lim, Emerson (15 January 2020). "President Tsai appoints new Chief of the General Staff". Central News Agency. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  28. ^ "蔡放手 黃曙光主導潛艦國造".
  29. ^ Wang, Yang-yu; Chen, Chun-hua; Kao, Evelyn (April 16, 2024). "DEFENSE/Submarine program chief reportedly offers resignation". Central News Agency. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  30. ^ Lo, Tien-pin; Chung, Jake (April 17, 2024). "Submarine head's departure could impact program". Taipei Times. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  31. ^ Lin, Sean; Yu, Matt (17 April 2024). "DEFENSE/Defense minister defends estimated cost of indigenous sub program". Central News Agency. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  32. ^ Blanchard, Ben; Lee, Yimou. "Submarine program remains on track despite resignation: defense minister". Taipei Times. Reuters. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  33. ^ "Retired navy admiral to stay on sub program - Taipei Times". www.taipeitimes.com. 16 May 2024.
  34. ^ "嚴部長主持參謀總長布達 黃曙光履任新職". www.ydn.com.tw.
  35. ^ https://www.president.gov.tw/NEWS/28400. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)