James Shen, 98; diplomat served as Taiwan’s last ambassador to the U.S.
James Shen, 98, the last Taiwanese ambassador to the United States before Washington switched diplomatic recognition to China in 1979, died Thursday in Taipei after a lengthy illness, relatives said.
Born in Shanghai, Shen had served as an English interpreter for Chiang Kai-shek, the former Nationalist leader who moved his government from China to Taipei after losing a civil war to Mao Tse-tung’s communist forces in 1949.
Shen was appointed ambassador to Washington in 1971, months before President Nixon visited Beijing and signed a communique to acknowledge the so-called “one-China policy” that considers Taiwan a part of China. The move dealt a huge blow to the Nationalists, who contended they were the legitimate rulers of all of China.
Despite Shen’s efforts to persuade Washington not to abandon its World War II ally, the United States severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1979.
Shen then returned to Taipei and retired.
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