One of Taiwan’s most prominent former officials, former Premier Hau Pei-tsu has died at the age of 100. Hau passed away on Monday afternoon from multiple organ failure.
The former premier had an illustrious career. He also served as defense minister and was the longest-serving Chief of the General Staff of the Republic of China Armed Forces.
The Republic of China is the official name of Taiwan’s government.
Hau’s son, former Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-pin, said that they will wait until the coronavirus epidemic is over to hold a memorial service. He said that his father spent his life defending the Republic of China.
Hau Pei-tsun was born in Jiangu, China and entered the army when he was 17 years old. He fought in the Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War and moved to Taiwan along with the Republic of China government, in the 1940s.
As commander of the 9th Infantry Division from 1958 to 1961, Hau presided over the 44-day battle between the ROC and the PLA forces over Kinmen. He won many of Taiwan’s top honors and rose in the ranks in the Ministry of Defense. Hau was Commander-in-Chief of the ROC Army from 1978 to 1981, and Chief of the General Staff in the Ministry of National Defense from 1981 to 1989. He served as defense minister from 1989-1990 and as premier from 1990 to 1993.