[1][2] Tsao was the first head of Taipei City Government's Department of Transportation [zh] appointed by mayor Ma Ying-jeou.
In this role, Tsao discussed the legal classification of scooters,[3] implemented a ban on eating and drinking while riding the Taipei Joint Bus System,[4] and traveled with Ma on a 2001 visit to Hong Kong.
[6] Tsao was elected to the Legislative Yuan in 2004, via the Kuomintang's party list for proportional representation.
[7][8] Tsao resigned from the Legislative Yuan in July 2007, as his leave of absence from National Taiwan University was due to end, and was replaced by Hwang Liang-hua.
[9][10] Tsao later served as chair of Sinotech Engineering Consultants Ltd and taught at Feng Chia University.