Stephen M. Young (diplomat)
Encyclopedia
Stephen M. Young is an American diplomat and the current Consul General of the Consulate General of the United States in Hong Kong under the State department in the Obama administration
.
He took office in March 2010. As Consul General, Young is responsible for the Hong Kong and Macao
special administrative regions. He was the Director of the American Institute in Taiwan
, the de facto
United States embassy of Taiwan
in Taipei
, from March 18, 2006 to July 3, 2009. Recently, he was a member of the faculty at the National Defense University
's Industrial College of the Armed Forces
, located at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C. Ambassador Young was U.S. Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic from 2003 to 2005.
from 1963 to 1965. He was educated at Wesleyan University
, where he received his B.A. and the University of Chicago
, where he received an M.A. (1974) and Ph.D.
(1980) in history.
Within the Department of State, he has served in the Office of Chinese and Mongolia
n Affairs and the Office of Soviet Affairs. He has been the Director of the Office of Caucasus and Security Affairs, the Director of the Office of Caucasus and Central Asian Affairs, the Director of the Office of Pakistan
, Afghanistan
and Bangladesh
Affairs, and the Director of the Office of Chinese and Mongolian Affairs.
His overseas assignments include: two tours in Moscow
, a tour in Beijing
, Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic, and Director of the AIT
in Taipei, Taiwan. He speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese and Russian.
As the U.S. Consul General in Hong Kong, he also oversees Macau – United States relations.
who heads the China Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council
. They have three children: Michael, a Peace Corps
volunteer in Ukraine
; Rebecca, a junior at Scripps College
in California; and Patrick, a freshman at the University of Arizona.
, the president of People First Party (PFP) of Taiwan
, after Dr. Soong learned he was commented as a 'wily' person in Dr. Young's report.
Presidency of Barack Obama
The Presidency of Barack Obama began at noon EST on January 20, 2009 when he became the 44th President of the United States. Obama was a United States Senator from Illinois at the time of his victory over Arizona Senator John McCain in the 2008 presidential election...
.
He took office in March 2010. As Consul General, Young is responsible for the Hong Kong and Macao
Mação
Mação is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 400.0 km² and a total population of 7,763 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of eight parishes, and is located in the Santarém District....
special administrative regions. He was the Director of the American Institute in Taiwan
American Institute in Taiwan
The American Institute in Taiwan is a non-profit, public corporation established under the auspices of the United States government to serve its interests in Taiwan...
, the de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
United States embassy of Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
, from March 18, 2006 to July 3, 2009. Recently, he was a member of the faculty at the National Defense University
National Defense University
The National Defense University is an institution of higher education funded by the United States Department of Defense, intended to facilitate high-level training, education, and the development of national security strategy. It is chartered by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with Navy Vice Admiral...
's Industrial College of the Armed Forces
Industrial College of the Armed Forces
The Industrial College of the Armed Forces is a U.S. military educational institution tasked with preparing military officers and civilian government officials for leadership and executive positions in the field of national security...
, located at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C. Ambassador Young was U.S. Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic from 2003 to 2005.
Biography
Dr. Young was born in Washington D.C. and moved to Taiwan at age 12, where his father served as a military adviser to the Taiwanese army in KaohsiungKaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
from 1963 to 1965. He was educated at Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
, where he received his B.A. and the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, where he received an M.A. (1974) and Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
(1980) in history.
Within the Department of State, he has served in the Office of Chinese and Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
n Affairs and the Office of Soviet Affairs. He has been the Director of the Office of Caucasus and Security Affairs, the Director of the Office of Caucasus and Central Asian Affairs, the Director of the Office of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
Affairs, and the Director of the Office of Chinese and Mongolian Affairs.
His overseas assignments include: two tours in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, a tour in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic, and Director of the AIT
American Institute in Taiwan
The American Institute in Taiwan is a non-profit, public corporation established under the auspices of the United States government to serve its interests in Taiwan...
in Taipei, Taiwan. He speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese and Russian.
As the U.S. Consul General in Hong Kong, he also oversees Macau – United States relations.
Personal
Dr. Young is married to Barbara A. Finamore, an attorneyAttorney at law
An attorney at law in the United States is a practitioner in a court of law who is legally qualified to prosecute and defend actions in such court on the retainer of clients. Alternative terms include counselor and lawyer...
who heads the China Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council
Natural Resources Defense Council
The Natural Resources Defense Council is a New York City-based, non-profit, non-partisan international environmental advocacy group, with offices in Washington DC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Beijing...
. They have three children: Michael, a Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
volunteer in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
; Rebecca, a junior at Scripps College
Scripps College
Scripps College is a progressive liberal arts women's college in Claremont, California, United States. It is a member of the Claremont Colleges. Scripps ranks 3rd for the nation's best women's college, ahead of Barnard College, Mount Holyoke College, and Bryn Mawr College at 23rd on the list for...
in California; and Patrick, a freshman at the University of Arizona.
Controversial
Dr. Young turned to be a very controversial American in Taiwan after many of his reports revealed by WikiLeaks. He is described as 'Ugly American' and 'Ugly Diplomat' by Dr. James SoongJames Soong
James Soong Chu-yu , is a politician in the Republic of China on Taiwan. He founded and chairs the People First Party, a smaller and more conservative party in the Kuomintang -led Pan-Blue Coalition....
, the president of People First Party (PFP) of Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, after Dr. Soong learned he was commented as a 'wily' person in Dr. Young's report.
External links
- American Institute in Taiwan/Taipei Director - Stephen M. Young, American Institute in Taiwan