The Passing of Parris Chang (張旭成)

Consummate Taiwan Patriot

Parris Chang (張旭成, Hsu-Cheng Chang) passed away on August 26th in Taipei, Taiwan.  I just learned this from his wife Shirley (Lin Hsiu-chu (林秀菊) ) who wrote to me to give me the news.    A ceremony honoring him will be held in Taipei on September 23rd. He was 86 years old. He was a true Taiwan patriot who fought for Taiwanese independence.

Parris Chang Speaking at the Hudson Institute (2018)

Parris was a very important Taiwanese leader who fought hard for a free, democratic and independent Taiwan.  He was a member of the Democratic People's Party (DPP), served in the Legislative Yuan (1993-2004), and was a Deputy Director of Taiwan's National Security Bureau (equivalent to the US National Security Council).

While born in Taiwan, Parris's graduate education was in the United States where he took his PhD in Political Science at Columbia University. 

In his career Parris was a Research political scientist University Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1969-1970. Assistant professor political science Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 1970-1972. Visiting fellow Australian National University, Canberra, 1978, Visiting scholar Institute Sino-Soviet Studies, George Washington University, Washington, 1979, Associate professor political science Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 1972-1976, professor, 1976-1997, director Center for East Asian Studies, 1989-1993.

He returned to Taiwan when it became possible after the dictatorship ended along with martial law.

His publications include Power and Policy in China and, as co-editor and contributing author, If China Crosses the Taiwan Strait: The International Response.

I first met Parris in 1995 when he headed the DPP Mission to the United States.  He and a handful of young people wanted to promote Taiwanese independence, something that even today the US does not recognize.  He was ready, willing and able to make a strong case supporting Taiwan's independence, and he offered a searing critique of China's Communist Party.  He was a fairly prolific author, wrote cogently, and passionately.

Parris asked me to join his Taipei Think Tank, the Taiwan Institute of Political, Economic and Social Studies as a senior fellow (TIPESS).  While TIPESS activity declined as Parris aged, it was a base for him to guide many from abroad, including a number of admirals and generals, visiting Taiwan, most of whom were not permitted to visit Taiwan when they served in government.  This helped open their eyes to Taiwan's needs and exposed them to Taiwan's vigorous democracy.  Because of Parris's considerable stature he was able to arrange meetings with top government and military leaders including at Taiwan's National Defense University.  I remember a briefing on board one of Taiwan's Kang Ding class frigates where a visiting delegation, including retired senior military from the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs heard a detailed presentation on the naval posture in the Taiwan Strait.  

Parris Chang was the consummate patriot.  He was always, in addition, a good and faithful friend. He will be missed. May his memory be a blessing.