Wikipedia

Edgar Lin

Lin Chun-yi (Chinese: 林俊義; 23 July 1938 – 13 November 2025), also known by his English name Edgar Lin, was a Taiwanese biologist, ecologist, diplomat, and politician.

Lin Chun-yi
林俊義
Director of the Coordination Council for North American Affairs
In office
17 August 2007 – 20 May 2008
Preceded byLin Fang-mei (zh)
Succeeded byChu Wen-hsiang (acting)
Shao Yu-ming (zh)
ROC Representative to the United Kingdom
In office
December 2004 – August 2007
Preceded byTien Hung-mao
Succeeded byKatharine Chang
ROC Ambassador to Gambia
In office
August 2001 – December 2004
Preceded byLee Cheng-hsiung[1]
Succeeded byPatrick Chang[2]
Minister of the Environmental Protection Administration
In office
20 May 2000 – 6 March 2001
Preceded byTsai Hsun-hsiung
Succeeded byHau Lung-pin
Head of the Taipei Department of Environmental Protection (zh)
In office
17 October 1995 – 9 August 1997
Preceded byChen Chin-yang
Succeeded byLiu Shyh-fang
Member of the National Assembly
In office
1 February 1992 – 31 January 1996
Personal details
Born(1938-07-23)23 July 1938
Taihoku, Taihoku Prefecture, Taiwan, Empire of Japan
Died13 November 2025(2025-11-13) (aged 87)
PartyDemocratic Progressive Party
EducationNational Taiwan University (BA)
National Taiwan Normal University (MA)
Indiana University (MS, PhD)

Early life and education

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Lin was born in Taipei in 1938.[3][4] He graduated from National Taiwan University with a bachelor's degree in foreign languages and literature and obtained a master's degree in English from National Taiwan Normal University. Lin then completed doctoral studies in the United States, earning a Master of Science (M.S.) and his Ph.D. in ecology and zoology from Indiana University. His doctoral dissertation was titled, "Comparative reproductive biology of two sympatric tropical lizards: Chamaeleo hohneli and Chamaeleo jacksoni".[5]

Academic career

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After receiving his doctorate, he remained in the United States for a time, working as a research fellow for the House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space and Technology.[6]

After his return to Taiwan, Lin taught at Tunghai University.[6][7] Lin began participating in Taiwan's environmental movement in the 1980s. He became known as a "godfather" of the cause and was a noted anti-nuclear activist, later serving Greenpeace Taiwan as its president.[8][9]

Political career

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Lin ran in the 1989 legislative election for a Legislative Yuan seat in Taichung, as one of the "Five Tigers" electoral coalition, alongside fellow legislative candidate Liu Wen-hsiung, mayoral candidate Hsu Jung-shu, and provincial councilor candidates Chang Wen-ying and Ho Chun-mu (zh).[10] His unsuccessful campaign was backed by the Democratic Progressive Party.[11] He was elected to the National Assembly in 1992. The National Assembly voted to block a set of reform proposals after its convocation. Alongside fellow Democratic Progressive Party members Huang Hsin-chieh and Chen Yung-hsing, Lin walked out of the assembly on 4 May 1992, criticizing the body for procedural violations.[12] In September 1993, Lin accepted the DPP nomination as its candidate for the Taichung mayoralty.[13] Lin lost to Lin Po-jung (zh), who secured a second consecutive term.

Lin led Taipei's Bureau of Environmental Protection (zh) while Chen Shui-bian was mayor.[6] Chen was elected president in 2000, and Lin was appointed minister of the Environmental Protection Administration by Premier Tang Fei in April, taking office with the rest of the cabinet on 20 May.[6] Shortly after joining the EPA, Lin renounced his opposition to nuclear energy, stating that he had held that stance largely to combat totalitarianism.[14] In October, Lin made his first trip to the United States in an official capacity and became the first EPA executive to include environmentalists as part of his contingent abroad.[8] The Amorgos oil spill occurred in January 2001, and the Executive Yuan was criticized for its delayed response.[15][16] Subsequently, Lin resigned his position in March.[17]

In August of that year, Lin was named ambassador to The Gambia.[18] He served until December 2004, when he was sworn in as Taiwan's representative to the United Kingdom.[19] His first trip in the United Kingdom took place the next month.[7] While in the United Kingdom, Lin spoke out against the One China principle, Anti-Secession Law, and one country, two systems.[20][21] Instead, Lin proposed that the European Union pass its own version of the United States' Taiwan Relations Act.[22]

Later life and death

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Lin and his American wife, who preceded him in death, had three children.[23] In retirement, Lin lived alone in Tamsui,[23] and was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.[24] He died on 13 November 2025, at the age of 87.[25][26]

References

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  1. ^ Lin, Chieh-yu (21 August 2000). "Gambians all smiles for Chen". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  2. ^ "New Taiwanese ambassador presents credintials". Office of the President of The Gambia. 27 January 2005. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  3. ^ "從「永不再見」到一生奉獻！環保運動先驅林俊義辭世 享壽87歲" (in Chinese). PC Home. 16 November 2025. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  4. ^ "政黨輪替後首任環保署長辭世！林俊義享壽87歲　一生橫跨政學外交界" (in Chinese). Storm Media. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  5. ^ Dissertation per Proquest
  6. ^ a b c d Jou, Ying-Cheng (30 April 2000). "Tang Fei returns to the political fray". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  7. ^ a b "New envoy arrives in UK". Taipei Times. 9 January 2005. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  8. ^ a b Chiu, Yu-Tzu (23 October 2000). "EPA meets with US counterpart in Hawaii". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  9. ^ Chiu, Yu-tzu (1 May 2000). "Greens uneasy over Lin joining the official fold". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  10. ^ 陳, 湘芸 (15 November 2025). "前環保署長林俊義辭世　陳彥斌追憶昔台中「五虎將」選戰辛酸". Newtalk (in Chinese). Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  11. ^ "Legislative Yuan still not fully representative" (PDF). Taiwan Communiqué. 41: 10. September 1989. ISSN 1027-3999.
  12. ^ "The DPP and Independents walk out" (PDF). Taiwan Communiqué. 55: 9. June 1992. ISSN 1027-3999.
  13. ^ "The Candidates" (PDF). Taiwan Communiqué. 59: 14. September 1993. ISSN 1027-3999.
  14. ^ Chiu, Yu-Tzu (26 May 2000). "'Father of anti-nuclear activists' singing a new tune". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  15. ^ Shan, Shelley (13 December 2006). "EPA wants ship's wreckage removed by April next year". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  16. ^ Low, Stephanie (1 March 2001). "Premier rejects minister's offer to resign over spill". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  17. ^ Huang, Joyce (6 March 2001). "Four new Cabinet officials appointed". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  18. ^ "Lin Chun-yi appointed new ambassador to the Gambia". Taipei Times. 4 August 2001. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  19. ^ Chen, Melody (20 December 2004). "Edgar Lin 'pursuing a colorful life'". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  20. ^ "Taiwan's envoy to the UK blames 'one China' idea". Taipei Times. 11 March 2005. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  21. ^ "Taiwan diplomat shuns unification with China". Taipei Times. 18 March 2007. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  22. ^ Huang, Jewel (1 June 2007). "Europe should make its own TRA, says top official to Britain". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  23. ^ a b "「反核教父」、政黨輪替後首任環保署長林俊義辭世享壽87歲…管碧玲哀悼：反獨裁的街頭聖戰士". Business Today (in Chinese). 15 November 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  24. ^ "健康網》林俊義生前得阿茲海默症 醫：雖有新藥須考量副作用". Liberty Times. 15 November 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  25. ^ "前環保署長林俊義辭世 向陽憶白色恐怖往事「與林教授因文字肇禍」". Liberty Times. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  26. ^ 李, 柏澔 (16 November 2025). "前環保署長林俊義辭世 彭啓明：不捨與哀痛". United Daily News (in Chinese). Retrieved 16 November 2025.
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