Yorkson T. Shen Yorkson T Shen (1897-2000) – His Excellency Ambassador Yorkson Ching Ting Shen of Lihu’e died peacefully in his sleep on June 6, 2000, after suffering a fall in his home on the day before, culminating a long
Yorkson T. Shen Yorkson T Shen (1897-2000) – His Excellency Ambassador
Yorkson Ching Ting Shen of Lihu’e died peacefully in his sleep on June 6, 2000,
after suffering a fall in his home on the day before, culminating a long life
of distinguished diplomatic service for the Chinese government beginning from
mainland China through the years of Taiwan.
Educated in a French school in
Japan, he graduated from Tokyo Imperial University in 1921. An accomplished
linguist, he was fluent in Chinese, Japanese, English, French, Spanish,
Portuguese and German. In 1935, he headed the Chinese legation in Panama.
By the end of the World War II, he manned the Chinese Mission to occupy
Japan in conjunction with General Douglas MacArthur. Then he was envoy to Cuba,
Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, etc., and headed the Chinese embassies in
Brazil and Japan. He cultivated a close friendship with former Emperor
Hirohito. Upon independence of the Congo, he established the embassy in
Leopoldville (Kinshasa) and went on to head the embassy in the Shah’s Iran. He
came to Lihu’e in 1988 to retire and write his memoirs and political
commentary.
He is survived by two sons, Henry of China and Richard of
Pasadena and daughter-in-law Aida,two grandsons, one granddaughter and one
great-grandson.
