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Taiwanese defector downplays World Bank appointment

The newly designated chief economist of the World Bank, Justin Lin (林毅夫), a leading Chinese academic better known in Taiwan for defecting to China, downplayed his appointment in a telephone interview, pointing out that the appointment requires final approval by the World Bank.

The appointment, which is expected to be approved by the bank's governing board at the end of this month, has again turned attention on Lin's defection to China 29 years ago.

Lin, director of the China Center for Economic Research at Peking University, was born in Taiwan. While serving as a captain in the Republic of China Army, Lin was held up as a role model for his decision to drop out of the prestigious National Taiwan University and join the army.

However, he defected to China in 1979, reportedly by swimming from Kinmen to Fujian Province.

Lin received a master's degree in Marxist political economics from Peking University in 1982, and a PhD in economics from the University of Chicago in 1986, becoming one of the first Chinese citizens to earn a doctoral degree during the early stages of economic reform in China.

The Wall Street Journal reported that World Bank President Robert Zoellick made the appointment to address criticism that the institution needs more senior management from developing nations, and that it should be better attuned to emerging markets. The appointment is expected to be approved by the bank's governing board at the end of this month.

The World Bank's chief economist plays an important role at the World Bank, setting its research agenda and helping to establish its intellectual direction, the report said, adding that Lin would be the first person from outside of Europe or the US to assume the post.

China was long one of the bank's top recipients of aid. However, with its strong economy and US$1.5 trillion in foreign exchange reserves, China last year made its first ever contribution to the World Bank's fund to aid countries in need.
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