Chen Cheng

Chen Cheng was a Chinese general and politician who served as the premier of the Republic of China three times, in 1928, 1930, and 1948. He was the eldest son of Sun Yat-sen, the revolutionary leader and the first provisional president of the republic, and his first wife Lu Muzhen. He studied in the United States and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley and Columbia University. He returned to China in 1911 and became the mayor of Guangzhou, where the Kuomintang ("Chinese Nationalist Party") was headquartered. He held various positions in the Nationalist Government, such as the minister of finance, the minister of internal affairs, and the foreign minister. He was elected as the premier by the National Assembly in 1928, 1930, and 1948, but resigned each time due to political conflicts or personal reasons. He was known for his economic reforms, his diplomatic skills, and his moderate views. He was involved in several important negotiations, such as the Washington Naval Conference, the Sino-German Cooperation, and the Cairo Conference. He also played a key role in securing foreign aid and loans for China during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War. He left China in 1949 after the Communist victory, and lived in Taiwan until his death in 1965. He was also a leader of the education and culture sector, and promoted democracy and human rights. He was the father of Sun Tse-ping, a famous mathematician, and Nora Sun, a diplomat and businesswoman.