Founder

Li-Pei Wu

Li-Pei WuHonorary Chairman, Li-Pei Wu founded the Formosa Foundation in 2002 following a life-long commitment to promoting human rights and democracy for Taiwan.

Wu has been a banker by profession, most notable for his successful revival and management of Los Angeles-based GBC Bancorp and its subsidiary bank, General Bank. In 2003, Wu retired from GBC Bancorp, which was later merged with Cathay Bancorp to form Cathay General Bancorp.

Among the numerous awards that he received in recognition of his outstanding banking career, Wu was the recipient of the 1998 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the Greater the new Los Angeles.

In 1999, Wu was invited by England’s University of Cambridge to be a Distinguished Guest Lecturer for its Department of Oriental Studies. Wu spoke on the topics of “Can Taiwan’s Economic Miracle Persevere? An examination on its past and future” and “Taiwan-China Relations: A dilemma of political confrontation and economic interdependency."

Now that democracy has taken root in Taiwan, my second life-long dream is to ensure that Taiwan remains free.  The Formosa Foundation was founded with the mission to promote better U.S.-Taiwan relations and to rally for stronger U.S. support for Taiwan’s democracy and the people’s right to self-determination." 

Li-Pei Wu, Formosa Foundation Founder & Honorary Chairman; Senior Advisor to President Chen Shui-bian