Cheng Wei-yuan (; 20 January 1913 – 3 August 1993) was a Taiwanese politician. He was the only Minister of National Defense (1987-1989) with the complete personal achievements in all the 4 power systems (Kuomintang, Politics, Military and Intelligence) in the ROC history. Being one of the few top-rank KMT generals sympathizing the victims by the Martial Law operation during White Terror and supporting the democratic modernization trend of the state; he kept the open-mind policy of communication to cooperate with the demands of parliament, media and societies, including the subtle relation with the newly founded Democratic Progressive Party.
Biography
1930s
1930: Travelled south to join the Infantry study in the ROC Military Academy after high school graduation. 1933: Graduated with honour being selected as a lieutenant training officer for cadet platoons, and the German translator of the Academy. 1936: Studied and practised in Italian Army; promoted as a training supervisor in captain rank.
1940s
1940: Graduated from University of Perugia; promoted to the major rank as a battalion commander of the advanced infantry officer academy. 1944: Transferred as a regiment commander in lieutenant-colonel rank during WWII. 1945: Participated multiple counter-strike battles to recover Guangxi province. 1946: Transferred as a leader of G2 (Intelligence) section of Ministry of National Defense (MND) in colonel rank after the war. 1947: Dispatched to the United States as a military attaché. 1948: Dispatched to the Italy as a military attaché. 1949: Returned G2 as a commissioner.
1950s
1950: Promoted to the major-general rank. 1951: Promoted as the Chief of G5 Bureau of MND. 1953: Transferred as 14th Division Commander of ROC Army. 1954: Transferred as the Chief Staff Officer of the 1st Army Group. 1955: Promoted as the Commander of the 2nd Army. 1956: Studied in United States Army Command and General Staff College. 1957: Returned as the Chief of the G3 (Operation) section of MND; supervised the fortress construction in Kinmen and Matsu Islands. 1958: Promoted to the lieutenant-general rank as the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff of MND in charge of support operations during Second Taiwan Strait Crisis. 1959: Promoted as the Chief of G1 (Personnel) Bureau of MND, then the Chief of Staff of ROC Army.
1960s
1961: Promoted as the Commander of ROC Marine Corps. 1964: Transferred as the Commander of the 1st Army Group. 1966: Promoted to the General rank as a Deputy Chief of General Staff of MND. 1967: Transferred as the Deputy Commander of ROC Army. 1969: Promoted as the Premier Deputy Chief of General Staff (CEO) of MND.
1970s
1972: Transferred as the General Commander of ROC Joint Logistics Command. 1973: Founded Chinese Taipei Football Association and Taiwan Mulan Football League to promote male/female football sport. 1975: Transferred as the General Commander of Taiwan Garrison Command. 1978: Promoted as the Deputy Minister of MND.