In a move aimed at reorganizing state-run China Airlines (CAL, 中 華航空), Minister of Transportation and Communications Yeh Chu-lan (葉菊蘭) announced yesterday the formation of a new board for the China Aviation Development Foundation (CADF, 中華航空事業發展基金會), which holds a 71 percent stake in CAL and is the main policy-making force behind the carrier.
Yeh also suggested National Chiao-tung University President, Chang Chun-yen (張俊彥) be named president of the group, replacing former Premier Hsu Li-teh (徐立德).
Chang has a long record of public service, including recent work as a member of the National Policy Advisory Committee (
Relatives in Chang's family were killed in the 228 Incident, and because of his family's political leanings, Chang had virtually no chance of studying abroad during the White Terror period. Chang received a PhD from National Chiao-tung University in 1970.
Chang is currently attending a seminar in San Jose, California, and was unavailable for comment.
An anonymous observer said the new CADF board members exclude all the former KMT members who previously held board positions. In addition, the source said CAL's competitor, EVA Air (長榮航空), has been blocked from gaining a board seat.
There had been speculation recently that EVA had sought to take control of CAL through the board, using its influence with President Chen.
EVA is widely rumored to have strong ties with the president, as its founder, Chang Yung-fa (
Both Yeh and Premier Tang Fei (
Other new board members include lawyer Chang Cheng-hsiung (
Yeh said Huang was invited to be CAL's representative in CADF as a fulfillment of the administration's promise to bring more democracy to the domestic airline industry.
CAL employee representatives have sought recently to capitalize on the timing of the board reshuffle to gain representation and have their voices heard.
"We hope that company employees can be represented both on the board of the foundation as well as in the company itself at the June election," said Lee Chao-ping (李昭平), chairman of the China Airlines Union (華航產業工會), at a hearing last Friday.
The youngest CADF board member, Huang is said to be a member of CAL's "Taiwan faction," known for its pro-DPP leanings.
The majority of CAL staff are strong supporters of the New Party and the recently formed People First Party.
"Current chairman Chiang Hung-yi (蔣洪彝) and president Sandy Liu (劉克涯) will be replaced in the near future to totally reform CAL's industry culture and management," MOTC officials said.
MOTC officials said the CADF should be reorganized by June 30 and the group will nominate 10 out of CAL's 11 board members soon after.
CHAOS: Iranians took to the streets playing celebratory music after reports of Khamenei’s death on Saturday, while mourners also gathered in Tehran yesterday Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a major attack on Iran launched by Israel and the US, throwing the future of the Islamic republic into doubt and raising the risk of regional instability. Iranian state television and the state-run IRNA news agency announced the 86-year-old’s death early yesterday. US President Donald Trump said it gave Iranians their “greatest chance” to “take back” their country. The announcements came after a joint US and Israeli aerial bombardment that targeted Iranian military and governmental sites. Trump said the “heavy and pinpoint bombing” would continue through the week or as long
TRUST: The KMT said it respected the US’ timing and considerations, and hoped it would continue to honor its commitments to helping Taiwan bolster its defenses and deterrence US President Donald Trump is delaying a multibillion-dollar arms sale to Taiwan to ensure his visit to Beijing is successful, a New York Times report said. The weapons sales package has stalled in the US Department of State, the report said, citing US officials it did not identify. The White House has told agencies not to push forward ahead of Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), it said. The two last month held a phone call to discuss trade and geopolitical flashpoints ahead of the summit. Xi raised the Taiwan issue and urged the US to handle arms sales to
State-run CPC Corp, Taiwan (CPC, 台灣中油) yesterday said that it had confirmed on Saturday night with its liquefied natural gas (LNG) and crude oil suppliers that shipments are proceeding as scheduled and that domestic supplies remain unaffected. The CPC yesterday announced the gasoline and diesel prices will rise by NT$0.2 and NT$0.4 per liter, respectively, starting Monday, citing Middle East tensions and blizzards in the eastern United States. CPC also iterated it has been reducing the proportion of crude oil imports from the Middle East and diversifying its supply sources in the past few years in response to geopolitical risks, expanding
Pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai’s (黎智英) fraud conviction and prison sentence were yesterday overturned by a Hong Kong court, in a surprise legal decision that comes soon after Lai was jailed for 20 years on a separate national security charge. Judges Jeremy Poon (潘兆初), Anthea Pang (彭寶琴) and Derek Pang (彭偉昌) said in the judgement that they allowed the appeal from Lai, and another defendant in the case, to proceed, as a lower court judge had “erred.” “The Court of Appeal gave them leave to appeal against their conviction, allowed their appeals, quashed the convictions and set aside the sentences,” the judges
RSS