Michael Tsai assumed the duties of Deputy Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the United States in April 2002, continuing his long and distinguished career of public service in Taiwan and the United States.
Elected in 1996 to two consecutive three-year terms in Taiwans highest legislative body, the Legislative Yuan, he served as Whip and Deputy Convener of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Caucus, Chair of both the National Defense and the Judicial Committee, and member of both the Education and the Budget Committee. From 2000 to 2002, Michael was also the Chair of the DPPs Defense Affairs and Policy Research Committee, and the Advisor to the Department of National Defense. He is currently the publisher of the Journal of Taiwan Defense Affairs, Taiwans premier defense-related publication.
In 1992, Michael was elected to Taiwans National Assembly, in which he served four years as the DPP Convener. In this capacity, he helped rewrite Taiwans national Constitution in order to promote democratic reforms such as the direct election of Taiwans president and the retirement of the old guard.
In addition to these elected positions, Michael has also held a wide range of other important leadership posts. From 1997 to 2002, he was Chair of the Tai-Yuan Cultural and Education Foundation. From 1996 to 2000, he was an Adviser to the Mainland Affairs Council, and from 1994 to 1996, he was a member of the Judicial Yuans Judicial Reform Commission.
Michael holds a J.D. from the California Western School of Law, an M.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin, and an L.L.B. from National Taiwan University. He passed the California, New York State, and New Jersey bar examinations and practiced law in all three states. From 1991 to 2002, he taught constitutional, business, and international law at the National Taichung Institute of Technology and the National Air University. And from 1987 to 1990, he was a Research Fellow at San Diego State Universitys Center for Human Resources Development in California.
Michael has a wife Catherine, a son Warren, and a daughter Karen. He is an avid reader and enjoys tennis and hiking.