Tsai Ching-hsiang (Chinese: 蔡清祥; pinyin: Cài Qīngxiáng) is a Taiwanese politician and lawyer. He has served as the Minister of Justice since 2018.

Tsai Ching-hsiang
蔡清祥
15th Minister of Justice
In office
16 July 2018 – 20 May 2024
Prime MinisterWilliam Lai
Su Tseng-chang
Chen Chien-jen
DeputyTsai Pi-chung
Chen Ming-tang
Preceded byChiu Tai-san
Succeeded byCheng Ming-chien
Director-General of the Investigation Bureau
In office
5 August 2016 – 15 July 2018
MOJ MinisterChiu Tai-san
Preceded byJoey Chung-I Wang
Succeeded byLin Lin-lan
Personal details
Political partyIndependent
EducationSoochow University (LLB)
Chinese Culture University (LLM)
National Taiwan University (MBA)

Before his ministerial career, he also served as the Director-General of the Investigation Bureau and the President of the Academy for the Judiciary of the Ministry of Justice. He is also known by the English name Shawn Tsai.[1]

Education

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Tsai earned a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from Soochow University and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from Chinese Culture University. He later completed an executive Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from National Taiwan University.[2]

Career

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Tsai served as head prosecutor in Kinmen and Miaoli,[3] before taking office as the prosecutor-general of Keelung.[4] He later led the Department of Prosecutorial Affairs at the Ministry of Justice. In this role, Tsai facilitated the extradition of Gerhard Dieter Rockmann to Germany and Wang You-theng from the United States.[5][6] In mid-2007, Tsai was named head prosecutor of the Shilin District Prosecutors' Office.[7] After leaving Shilin, Tsai served as lead prosecutor in Taoyuan and chief secretary of the justice ministry,[3][8] followed by a stint as principal of the Judges Academy [zh].[9] He was subsequently named to the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in July 2016.[9] In 2016, Tsai was appointed director general of the Investigation Bureau.[10][11][12] As bureau leader, Tsai investigated environmental damage and was especially known for leading drug busts.[13][14] Tsai was respected for his high standards, efficiency, and personal leadership style.[15] He was also known for his close relationship with William Lai.[16]

Minister of Justice

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Tsai was appointed Minister of Justice in July 2018, succeeding Chiu Tai-san.[17][18] Tsai was formally sworn in on 16 July 2018.[19]

On 31 August 2018, Tsai Ching-hsiang ordered the execution of convicted murderer Lee Hung-chi.[20] Lee's death was the first execution carried out by the Tsai Ing-wen administration.[21]

References

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  1. ^ "Liberty for libertines - Taiwan's courts may decriminalise adultery". The Economist. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  2. ^ "Director General Tsai, Ching-hsiang". 16 December 2016. Archived from the original on 21 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  3. ^ a b Yu, Kai-hsiang; Kuo, Chung-han (28 July 2016). "Tsai Ching-hsiang named Investigation Bureau chief". Central News Agency. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  4. ^ Chuang, Jimmy (21 April 2003). "Germany seeks extradition of kidnap-murder suspect". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  5. ^ Chang, Rich (4 July 2006). "Germany seeks extradition of kidnap-murder suspect". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  6. ^ Snyder, Charles; Hirsch, Max; Chang, Rich (4 February 2007). "US immigration holding fugitive Wang". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  7. ^ Chang, Rich (8 July 2007). "Feature: Justice ministry considering methadone bill". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  8. ^ "Chemical castration law is unnecessary: lawmaker". Taipei Times. 30 July 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  9. ^ a b Pan, Jason (7 July 2016). "Ministry of Justice reshuffling heads of prosecutors' offices". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  10. ^ "Tsai Ching-hsiang named Investigation Bureau chief - Focus Taiwan". Focus Taiwan - CNA English News. 2016-07-28. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
  11. ^ Chen, Wei-han (10 March 2017). "Chinese espionage threat growing: security officials". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  12. ^ "Leu Weng-jong appointed new head of Investigation Bureau - Focus Taiwan". Focus Taiwan - CNA English News. 2018-09-14. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
  13. ^ Pan, Jason (29 June 2017). "Tree DNA database aims to combat illegal logging". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  14. ^ Chin, Jonathan (15 February 2018). "Keelung investigators seize 600kg of ecstasy". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  15. ^ Lee, Hsin-fang; Lin, Chia-tung; Chin, Jonathan (12 July 2018). "FEATURE: Three new ministers tapped: sources". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  16. ^ Lee, Hsin-fang; Su, Yung-yao; Hetherington, William (12 July 2018). "Cabinet shuffle to include Hochen". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  17. ^ Lin, Sean (13 July 2018). "Premier unveils Cabinet picks". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  18. ^ Pan, Jason (14 July 2018). "Outgoing minister denies death penalty veto claims". Taipei Times. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  19. ^ Lin, Chia-nan; Chin, Jonathan (17 July 2018). "Justice minister to review policy on death sentencing". Taipei Times. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  20. ^ Hsiao, Po-wen; Wang, Flor (31 August 2018). "President Tsai's administration carries out first death penalty". Central News Agency. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  21. ^ Strong, Matthew (31 August 2018). "Taiwan executes convict on president's birthday". Taiwan News.