Tsai Ching-hsiang

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
Born (1953-01-15) January 15, 1953
Political partyIndependent
EducationSoochow University (LLB)
Chinese Culture University (LLM)
National Taiwan University (MBA)

Tsai Ching-hsiang (Chinese: 蔡清祥; pinyin: Cài Qīngxiáng; born January 15, 1953) is a Taiwanese politician and lawyer. He has served as the Minister of Justice since 2018.

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

Tsai graduated from Soochow University with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree and earned a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Chinese Culture University in 1982. His master's degree thesis was titled, "A study of civil legal issues concerning public nuisance" (Chinese: 公害民事法律問題之研究).[2]

After receiving his master's degree, Tsai became a visiting scholar at Harvard Law School. He later earned an executive Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from National Taiwan University.[3]

Career

Tsai served as head prosecutor in Kinmen and Miaoli,[4] before taking office as the prosecutor-general of Keelung.[5] 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.[6][7] In mid-2007, Tsai was named head prosecutor of the Shilin District Prosecutors' Office.[8] After leaving Shilin, Tsai served as lead prosecutor in Taoyuan and chief secretary of the justice ministry,[4][9] followed by a stint as principal of the Judges Academy.[10] He was subsequently named to the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in July 2016.[10] In 2016, Tsai was appointed director general of the Investigation Bureau.[11][12][13] As bureau leader, Tsai investigated environmental damage and was especially known for leading drug busts.[14][15] Tsai was respected for his high standards, efficiency, and personal leadership style.[16] He was also known for his close relationship with William Lai.[17]

Minister of Justice

Tsai was appointed Minister of Justice in July 2018, succeeding Chiu Tai-san.[18][19] Tsai was formally sworn in on 16 July 2018.[20]

On 31 August 2018, Tsai Ching-hsiang ordered the execution of convicted murderer Lee Hung-chi.[21] Lee's death was the first execution carried out by the Tsai Ing-wen administration.[22]

References

  1. ^ "Liberty for libertines - Taiwan's courts may decriminalise adultery". The Economist. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  2. ^ "公害民事法律問題之研究". ndltd.ncl.edu.tw (LL.M. thesis). Retrieved 2025-08-11.
  3. ^ "Director General Tsai, Ching-hsiang". 16 December 2016. Archived from the original on 21 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Chuang, Jimmy (21 April 2003). "Germany seeks extradition of kidnap-murder suspect". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  6. ^ Chang, Rich (4 July 2006). "Germany seeks extradition of kidnap-murder suspect". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  7. ^ Snyder, Charles; Hirsch, Max; Chang, Rich (4 February 2007). "US immigration holding fugitive Wang". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  8. ^ Chang, Rich (8 July 2007). "Feature: Justice ministry considering methadone bill". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  9. ^ "Chemical castration law is unnecessary: lawmaker". Taipei Times. 30 July 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  10. ^ a b Pan, Jason (7 July 2016). "Ministry of Justice reshuffling heads of prosecutors' offices". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  11. ^ "Tsai Ching-hsiang named Investigation Bureau chief - Focus Taiwan". Focus Taiwan - CNA English News. 2016-07-28. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
  12. ^ Chen, Wei-han (10 March 2017). "Chinese espionage threat growing: security officials". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  13. ^ "Leu Weng-jong appointed new head of Investigation Bureau - Focus Taiwan". Focus Taiwan - CNA English News. 2018-09-14. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
  14. ^ Pan, Jason (29 June 2017). "Tree DNA database aims to combat illegal logging". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  15. ^ Chin, Jonathan (15 February 2018). "Keelung investigators seize 600kg of ecstasy". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  16. ^ Lee, Hsin-fang; Lin, Chia-tung; Chin, Jonathan (12 July 2018). "FEATURE: Three new ministers tapped: sources". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  17. ^ Lee, Hsin-fang; Su, Yung-yao; Hetherington, William (12 July 2018). "Cabinet shuffle to include Hochen". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  18. ^ Lin, Sean (13 July 2018). "Premier unveils Cabinet picks". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  19. ^ Pan, Jason (14 July 2018). "Outgoing minister denies death penalty veto claims". Taipei Times. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  20. ^ Lin, Chia-nan; Chin, Jonathan (17 July 2018). "Justice minister to review policy on death sentencing". Taipei Times. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  21. ^ Hsiao, Po-wen; Wang, Flor (31 August 2018). "President Tsai's administration carries out first death penalty". Central News Agency. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  22. ^ Strong, Matthew (31 August 2018). "Taiwan executes convict on president's birthday". Taiwan News.