Yu Kuo-hwa (; January 10, 1914 – October 4, 2000) was a Taiwanese economist who served as the Premier of the Republic of China from 1984 to 1989.

Biography

Yu was born on 10 January 1914 in

Fenghua Fenghua (; ) is a district (China), district of the city of Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China. The district and its administrative hinterlands have a population of over 480,000. Fenghua is the hometown of two former president of the Republic of ...

, Ningbo,

Zhejiang ) , translit_lang1_type2 = , translit_lang1_info2 = ( Hangzhounese) ( Ningbonese) (Wenzhounese) , image_skyline = 玉甑峰全貌 - panoramio.jpg , image_caption = View of the Yandang Mountains , image_map = Zhejiang i ...

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

. After graduating from

Tsinghua University Tsinghua University (THU) is a public university in Haidian, Beijing, China. It is affiliated with and funded by the Ministry of Education of China. The university is part of Project 211, Project 985, and the Double First-Class Constructio ...

in 1934 with a bachelor's degree in

political science Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and Power (social and political), power, and the analysis of political activities, political philosophy, political thought, polit ...

, he served as an aide to Chiang Kai-shek. Yu then earned a graduate degree in economics at

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

, where he studied from 1944 to 1946, and the

London School of Economics The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), established in 1895, is a public research university in London, England, and a member institution of the University of London. The school specialises in the social sciences. Founded ...

, where he studied finance from 1946 to 1947. He was appointed as Minister of Finance on 29 November 1967 and became Governor of the Central Bank of China in 1969. As Premier, Yu was responsible for ending Taiwan's 38 years of

martial law Martial law is the replacement of civilian government by military rule and the suspension of civilian legal processes for military powers. Martial law can continue for a specified amount of time, or indefinitely, and standard civil liberties ...

in 1987. In October 1988, he walked out of a meeting of the

Legislative Yuan The Legislative Yuan () is the unicameral legislature of the Republic of China (Taiwan) located in Taipei. The Legislative Yuan is composed of 113 members, who are directly elected for four-year terms by people of the Taiwan Area through a ...

, the first time a government official had done so, as extensive debate made it impossible for Yu to deliver his reports. He died from complications from leukemia at 4pm on 4 October 2000 at the Veterans' General Hospital in

Taipei , nickname = The City of Azaleas , image_map = , map_caption = , pushpin_map = Taiwan#Asia#Pacific Ocean#Earth , coordinates = , subdivision_type = Country ...

. Yu was preceded by Sun Yun-suan and succeeded by Lee Huan.

References

1914 births 2000 deaths Harvard University alumni Politicians from Ningbo Premiers of the Republic of China on Taiwan Ministers of finance of Taiwan Republic of China politicians from Zhejiang Recipients of the Order of Brilliant Star Alumni of the London School of Economics Taiwanese people from Zhejiang Governors of the Central Bank of the Republic of China {{Taiwan-politician-stub

Biography

See also

References