Senior Presidential Adviser Wu Li-pei (
Through his connections with a number of US political heavyweights, Wu, a long-time friend of Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski, has played a pivotal role lobbying for Taiwan's cause in the US.
The oppression that reigned over Taiwan during the White Terror era left an indelible impression on Wu, whose brother was jailed by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) regime during that time.
Due to his active role in the US assisting Taiwan independence activities, he was black-listed by the KMT regime in Taiwan as an "overseas dissident."
A banker by profession, Wu's first job in the US upon completion of his MBA was at the National Bank of Alaska, where he started as staff accountant and worked his way up to become chief financial officer. He then landed a job as president at Alaska National Bank.
One of his most notable successes was the revival and management of LA-based GBC Bancorp and its subsidiary bank, General Bank.
The General Bank was experiencing severe financial difficulties in 1982. Wu, who was then president of Alaska National Bank and whose management skills had been noted and respected in the financial sector, was quickly recruited by General Bank's Taiwanese investors, who asked him to take over General Bank.
Wu not only turned General Bank around, but also put it on top. By 1990, Wu won the Outstanding Entrepreneur Award from the National Association of Investment Companies and General Bank was handed a number of accolades. In 1994, California Research Corp ranked General Bank the top-performing California bank in the US$500 million to US$999 million asset range. Wu was several times recognized for his outstanding banking career, including being awarded the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 1998.
In 2003, Wu retired from the posts of chairman and chief executive of GBC Bancorp and General Bank.
Last July, Wu, founder of the Los Angeles-based Formosa Foundation and head of the Global A-bian Family (
On Tuesday, however, Wu tendered his resignation. Like several pro-independence presidential and national policy advisers, Wu strongly disapproved of the 10-point consensus that Chen had signed with People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (
"What's best for Taiwan should be decided by the people of Taiwan. Neither President Chen nor Soong can alone decide what's best for Taiwan," Wu said.
With his commitment to promoting democracy for Taiwan, Wu in 2002 founded the Formosa Foundation in LA, an NGO that aims to foster better understanding between Taiwan and the US, and advocates the "One China, One Taiwan" policy as a better reflection of the present political reality.
For the third year in the row, the foundation will this summer sponsor a two-week training program in Washington for young adults. The program is designed to enhance and promote US-Taiwan relations. This year's Ambassador Program will include not only American participants, but also citizens from Taiwan.
"It is important for young people in Taiwan and in the US to engage in exchanges," said Wu, who is also uncle of Mainland Affairs Council Chairman Joseph Wu (吳釗燮).
"Once they are done with the program, they automatically become alumni of the program and thus a member of the alumni club," Wu said. "With the support of the foundation, these alumni can organize events and exchanges, and promote issues relating to the best interests of US-Taiwan relations."
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