Government taps Chao for GIO post

The central government yesterday confirmed a top personnel reshuffle as the KMT gears up for next year's presidential election, naming a senior media figure to the top information post and reaffirming its choice for a new foreign minister.

Premier Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) yesterday affirmed that Chao Yi (趙怡), vice general manager of Eastern Multimedia Corp, is set to take over the post of Government Information Office director-general, replacing Chen Chien-jen (程建?H), who will become minister of foreign affairs.

Elsewhere in the Cabinet, Mainland Affairs Council Vice Chairman Lin Chong-pin (林??斌) has been tapped for a promotion to the council's more senior post of political vice chairman. The incumbent, Sheu Ke-sheng (3柯生), is about to retire.

Lin's position will be filled by Taiwan's chief representative to Hong Kong, Cheng An-kuo (鄭|w國). Cheng had earlier this year found himself in hot water due to statements he made to a radio station on Taiwan's statehood, but he apparently had been well-respected among Hong Kong media.

The personnel changes are to take effect as soon as the KMT's central standing committee -- the party's highest decision-making body -- approves them tomorrow.

The new GIO chief is no stranger to media relations, having served as general manager of the state-run Chinese Television System (CTS), general manager of Global TV, and in his current post at Eastern TV.

Chao's appointment certainly raised a few eyebrows among political commentators, however, as he is considered a controversial political figure known to have close ties with many of the KMT's "old guard" -- mostly formerly powerful mainlanders who have been sidelined by President Lee Teng-hui over the years.

Premier Vincent Siew was upbeat yesterday, however, when facing media questioning on the decision.

"I want to make use of Chao's media experience to bridge the gap between the government and the public,'' Siew said.

Vice Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) echoed Siew's remarks, saying that seeing as the new GIO chief came from media circles himself, he could better satisfy the demands of the media. Chao's predecessor, a career diplomat, though well-liked, was often seen as being a bit too dignified for the rough-and-tumble world of government-media relations.

Chao himself said yesterday that since the press had published information regarding his career change a day ahead of the announcement, he had given more serious thought to the new role.

"I am willing to take up the new challenge,'' Chao said.

As the presidential election heats up, party officials said the KMT's Lien-Siew camp has spared no efforts in its attempt to improve both its public image and its ties with the media.

Such efforts have come amid a barrage of media coverage of maverick candidate James Soong (宋楚瑜), who himself served as a highly controversial GIO chief 20 years ago.

Jason Hu (-J志強), who recently resigned from his post as foreign minister to take over as the KMT's campaign manager, said yesterday he was trying his best to boost the Lien-Siew ticket.

"As I have observed from a close distance, both Lien and Siew deserve more credit from the media and the public,'' he said.

"I believe once we strengthen the accessibility of the Lien-Siew ticket, either from the media or from other activities, voters will simply switch sides,'' he said.