Others say Tsung should be given a chance.
"Minister Tsung should be given the benefit of the doubt. She should be given a fair go," said Richard Henson, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei.
"Taiwan is facing very, very tough economic challenges, and to tear down a minister rather than support [her on] the difficult road ahead is the wrong way to go," he said.
Pointing out that with Taiwan's economy is only beginning to show signs of a recovery, Hsu said that the timing of placing a questionable candidate as the head of the ministry was a poor decision.
"The economy is not so good at this moment and we need a strong minister to handle such problems," Hsu said. "Tsung has no plan, she does not know how to handle the economy or how to reach her goals of an economic growth rate of 3.5 percent," he said.
At least one foreign business leader, who declined to be named, appeared to agree.
"There is a reason she's taking a lambasting in the press," he said. "The foreign business community has a tremendous sense of urgency in fixing the problems of the economy. We don't feel the government has that same sense of urgency.
"Business does not work by political schedules. Taiwan's national security rests on its economic strength. The economics ministry portfolio is the gem in the crown of the government ministries. You need very strong leadership coming from there," he said.
While Tsung reportedly spent a break during harsh legislative interpellation crying in the ladies room - not exactly a picture of strong leadership - it would seem unfair to be too quick in calling for her to exit the stage.
Opposition lawmakers afterall can be an ornery bunch to the uninitiated and lack of poise under fire doesn't necessarily mean an individual is devoid of the more refined strategem.
However, if Tsung can't produce the goods sometime in the near future then calls for this eventuality are only going to grow, on both sides of the political fence.



