Shen was born in
Suzhou,
Jiangsu, in mainland China. He was educated at
Yenching University in
Beijing, before moving to the United States and completing a
Master of Arts degree at the
University of Michigan. He was a member of the
Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party), and from 1945 to 1948 served as
Chiang Kai-shek's private secretary. He was a government spokesman from 1950 to 1953, after the
retreat to Taiwan. During a lengthy career in foreign affairs, he served as Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs (1953–1959), Ambassador to Spain (1959–1960), Minister of Foreign Affairs (1960–1966), Ambassador to the Holy See (1966–1969), Ambassador to Thailand (1969–1972), and Minister of Foreign Affairs again (1972–1978). His second term as foreign minister was served under
Chiang Ching-kuo, the son of Chiang Kai-shek. {{Blockquote|His strong anticommunist convictions, his determination not to deviate from the
one China position in the ROC's diplomatic relations, and the high value he placed on maintaining as close relations as possible with the United States coincided closely with the views of his leader [Chiang Ching-kuo]. ==Personal life==