Chou Shou-hsun (Chinese: 周守訓; pinyin: Zhōu Shǒuxùn; Wade–Giles: Chou1 Shou3-hsün4; born 27 August 1966) is a Taiwanese politician who served in the Legislative Yuan from 2005 to 2012. He is known in English as Justin Chou.

Chou Shou-hsun
Justin Chou
周守訓
Chou in July 2008
Member of the Legislative Yuan
In office
1 February 2005 – 31 January 2012
Succeeded byPasuya Yao
ConstituencyTaipei 2
Personal details
Born (1966-08-27) 27 August 1966 (age 57)
Taipei, Taiwan
NationalityRepublic of China
Political partyKuomintang
SpouseWang Yung-ho
Alma materShih Hsin University
Emerson College
Cornell University
OccupationPolitician

Education edit

Chou attended both Chiehso and Yan Ping High Schools in Taipei before graduating from Shih Hsin University. He pursued graduate study in the United States, holding a master of arts in mass media from Emerson College, and a Ph.D in policy analysis and administration from Cornell University.[1][2]

Political career edit

Chou began his political career as party spokesman, for the Kuomintang as a whole and specifically for the party's Culture and Communications Affairs Committee,[3][4] later rising to assistant director of the committee.[5] Chou then represented Lien Chan and James Soong, who fielded a joint ticket in the 2004 presidential elections.[6][7] Chou was first elected to the Legislative Yuan in that year's legislative elections,[8][9] despite the loss of the Pan-Blue coalition's presidential ticket.

During his first legislative term, Chou supported stringent monitoring of Taiwan's foreign aid budget as a buffer against checkbook diplomacy.[10] He also brought attention to weakening infrastructure[11] and multiple nationwide violations of the School Health Act, calling out educational institutions that did not employ the number of nutritionists the law required.[12] Chou led allegations of forgery against National Taiwan Normal University president Huang Kuan-tsae in 2005.[13]

In 2006, the Kuomintang Youth Corps was established. Chou contested the organization's top leadership position, and lost to Lin Yi-shih.[14][15] Later that year Chou voiced public support for Taipei mayor Ma Ying-jeou, who was under investigation for corruption.[16] In August 2007, Ma was found not guilty.[17]

Chou won reelection to the legislature in 2008 while serving as Ma's presidential campaign manager.[18][19] In his second term, Chou was rated highly by the Citizen Congress Watch.[20][21] Legislative positions he held during this time included deputy secretary general of the KMT caucus.[22][23] Chou also led the Foreign and National Defense Committee with Chang Hsien-yao.[24][25][26] Chou visited Nicaragua in May 2009, as part of a government delegation led by Ma.[27] Chou backed Chang in his bid for the Kaohsiung mayoralty in 2010.[28] Later that year, the murder of Weng Chi-nan was solved when the suspect sought Chou out and asked him to arrange terms of surrender.[29]

Chou faced Chen Yu-mei in a party primary during his second reelection bid until she dropped out April 2011.[30] Chou subsequently lost the 2012 election to Pasuya Yao.[31]

As a legislator, Chou was involved in issues pertaining to education,[32][33] the foreign relations of Taiwan,[34][35] immigration,[36] and public safety.[37] He has repeatedly criticized China for its suppression of Taiwan on the international stage.[38][39][40]

Career in entertainment edit

Chou has also been active in the entertainment industry as a singer and film director.[41][42] He helped cast Wei Te-sheng's 2011 film Seediq Bale by working with the Ministry of National Defense to ensure aboriginal members of the military could take time off to appear on screen.[43]

Personal edit

Chou is married to television presenter Wang Yung-ho.[44] Wang was selected to the National Communications Commission in 2012, but review of her nomination was continually stalled in the legislature.[45][46]

References edit

  1. ^ "Justin S. Chou (6)". Legislative Yuan. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  2. ^ "Justin S. Chou (7)". Legislative Yuan. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  3. ^ Chuang, Jimmy (9 November 2001). "KMT says cooking classes not corrupt". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  4. ^ Low, Stephanie (20 November 2001). "KMT demands probe into stabilization fund's losses". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  5. ^ Tsai, Ting-i (17 May 2002). "Half the nation pleased with the way Chen rules". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  6. ^ Huang, Tai-lin (17 October 2003). "Lien's campaign TV ads to stress love for Taiwan". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  7. ^ "Lien Chan doesn't want his son to marry a foreigner". Taipei Times. 5 March 2004. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  8. ^ Chiu, Yu-Tzu (11 December 2004). "Ma shows loyalty by supporting KMT". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  9. ^ Hong, Caroline (2 December 2004). "'I do not work with China': Lien Chan". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  10. ^ Lin, Jean (12 May 2006). "Legislators say foreign aid should be monitored". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  11. ^ Shih, Hsiu-chuan (4 August 2007). "KMT lawmakers raise alarm over bridge safety". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  12. ^ Loa, Iok-sin (18 January 2007). "Nutritionist shortage puts student health in jeopardy". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  13. ^ Ko, Shu-ling (22 March 2005). "Legislators heap plagiarism, forgery claims on academics". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  14. ^ Mo, Yan-chih (28 January 2006). "KMT Youth Corps readies for its leadership election". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  15. ^ Tseng, Wei-chen; Hsu, Stacy (5 July 2012). "Lin's fall from KMT royalty to pariah". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  16. ^ Shih, Hsiu-chuan (27 November 2006). "KMT lawmakers criticize 'interference'". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  17. ^ Chang, Rich; Shih, Hsiu-chuan; Ko, Shu-ling; Wang, Flora (15 August 2007). "Ma found not guilty in corruption trial". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  18. ^ Ko, Shu-ling (27 December 2007). "DPP opens center dedicated to clean election campaigns". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  19. ^ Yeh, Benjamin (23 February 2008). "Presidential election: Rivals prep for TV debate". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  20. ^ Wang, Flora (8 March 2010). "Citizen Congress Watch releases legislative report". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  21. ^ Tseng, Wei-chen (12 February 2012). "Legislature went out with whimper". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  22. ^ Huang, Shelley (26 September 2009). "Minister rejects Chen's alternative to detention". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  23. ^ Wang, Flora; Loa, Iok-sin (26 September 2009). "Government prevents visit by Kadeer". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  24. ^ Chang, Rich (21 April 2009). "DPP says Jackie Chan not welcome". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  25. ^ "New trade offices planned". Taipei Times. 25 November 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  26. ^ Wang, Flora (24 September 2009). "KMT to chair 14 of 16 committees this legislative session". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  27. ^ Ko, Shu-ling (19 May 2009). "First lady to accompany Ma on state visit". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  28. ^ Wang, Flora (1 April 2010). "Chang eyes Greater Kaohsiung". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  29. ^ Chuang, Jimmy; Loa, Iok-sin (27 August 2010). "Weng Chi-nan murder solved, Hu says". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  30. ^ Mo, Yan-chih (6 April 2011). "Chen Yu-mei drops out of KMT Datong legislative primary". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  31. ^ Shan, Shelley (9 December 2012). "DPP criticizes NCC nomination". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  32. ^ Wang, Yu-chung (12 December 2010). "Academia Historica officials disciplined over Deng ruckus". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  33. ^ "Cursive writing to be taught". Taipei Times. 30 October 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  34. ^ Shih, Hsiu-chuan (23 December 2010). "WTF site hacked after Yang's suspension". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  35. ^ Huang, Jewel (14 November 2006). "Deputy foreign minister to lead team to Nicaragua". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  36. ^ Hsu, Jenny W. (7 April 2009). "Agency under fire over foreign spouse interviews". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  37. ^ Shih, Hsiu-chuan; Lin, Shu-hui (27 April 2011). "NFA promises to boost monitoring of incense shops". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  38. ^ Hsu, Jenny W.; Shih, Hsiu-chuan (9 December 2009). "Parties condemn 'harassment' of Taiwan student". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  39. ^ "DPP, KMT slam Venezuela for refusing sports visas". Taipei Times. 9 August 2007. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  40. ^ Shih, Hsiu-chuan; Lee, I-chia (24 May 2011). "Global participation to be expanded 'within a year'". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  41. ^ Lee, Vico (13 March 2004). "The rallying call of politics". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  42. ^ Chen, David (13 August 2010). "Pop stop". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  43. ^ "MND to lend aboriginal servicemen for movie [Director drafts Aboriginal servicemen for new film]". China Post Taipei Times. Central News Agency. 7 May 2009. Archived from the original on 7 November 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016. Alt URL
  44. ^ Shan, Shelley (14 December 2012). "Transportation Committee dismisses session because of minister's absence". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  45. ^ Shan, Shelley (11 January 2013). "NCC nominee review hits a snag". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  46. ^ Wang, Chris; Shih, Hsiu-chuan (15 January 2013). "Lawmakers approve all FTC nominees". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2016.