The Asia Pacific Association for the Control of Tobacco, or APACT, is an organization that was formed in 1989 based on the endorsement of the John Tung Foundation. This organization combines the strengths of anti-tobacco groups of other Asia Pacific countries to fight the international tobacco giants, as well as raising the standard of tobacco control and prevention in Taiwan.

　　During the 1980, the anti-tobacco sentiment was high in the U.S. and in Europe due to ever increasing health concerns, the control of tobacco products were stricter and stricter as a result. When faced with tighter regulations, these international tobacco companies turned their attention to Asia. They would force themselves on various Asian countries, thanks mostly to the unilateral trade action under the statute Section 301, which demanded various Asian countries to allow importation of U.S. tobacco products, lower the tariff, and allow the advertisement of cigarettes. Japan was the target in 1986, Taiwan in 1987, and South Korea in 1988.

　　Because Taiwan is not powerful enough to oppose this force by itself, on June 12, 1989 the John Tung Foundation gathered more than 30 anti-tobacco leaders from the U.S., Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Philippine in Taiwan for the first annual Asia Pacific anti-tobacco and health conference.

　　When the APACT was first formed, U.S. recommended the APACT headquarter to be built in Tokyo, and urged Mr. Yan Dao not to run for the chairperson position, due to the fact that Taiwan was not part of the United Nations. Mr. Yan fought for the position, and he finally gained unanimous support from other nations. Mr. Yan said, "to fight the holy war against cigarette, we need other countries to stand together to fend off the invasion of cigarette, so we may promote the health of Asian people. Health is a right that should not be influenced by political forces. In addition, being a chairperson doesn't mean special privilege, it means sacrificing oneself and have a spirit of benevolence"

　　The APACT became the first non-government organization (NGO) in Taiwan, successfully marrying the anti-tobacco forces from various Asian governments and NGO's. It fought back the invasion of foreign cigarette into Asia, giving the Asian people back their health. The WHO even awarded an anti-tobacco merit to honor its contribution. Mr. Yan said, "we need to work hard together, shoulder-to-shoulder, to fight against the invasion of cigarette. My dream is to have a smoke-free Asia in the 21st century, and APACT is the wings that will make the dream take off".

　　In 2004, the baton was passed from the seventh chairperson Mrs. Guangmo Chung of South Korea Consumer Union to Taiwan's John Tung Foundation, officially giving the important task of running the APACT back to Taiwan. In the same year, a permanent headquarter was built in Taipei, meaning that the John Tung Foundation will become the anti-tobacco center of Asian Pacific region.

　　Professor Chen Tzi-lang, who is a senior consultant of John Tung Foundation and a professor at Tulane University, as well as the founder of the APACT, will be the chairperson of the APACT until the year 2007. He will preside over the APACT meeting to be held in Taipei in 2007.