Premier-designate Yu Shyi-kun spent his last weekend before taking office dining with Cabinet members yesterday and discussing the details of a joint pledge in which team spirit, efficiency and frugality will be emphasized.
In addition, a crash course for incoming Cabinet members has been scheduled for Thursday. Old and new members have been invited to participate in the program, in which government officials will familiarize themselves with their jobs and learn how to deal with lawmakers and the media.
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Yu ate lunch and dinner yesterday with two groups of newly appointed Cabinet members at the Armed Forces Officer's Club.
Chuang Suo-hang (
"It's a warm-up for the big day," Chuang said.
The incoming Cabinet members also exchanged views on the joint pledge, an idea brought up by Yu, Chuang said.
"The purpose of the joint pledge is to commit oneself to do the utmost to continue political reforms, increase administrative efficiency and practice frugality," Chuang quoted Yu as saying.
Chuang also said that the pledge was designed to show the public that the new Cabinet is determined to accomplish the goals and work as a team for the best interests of the nation.
"The premier emphasized that each and every `combative Cabinet' member should work as a team and do their best to accomplish the missions," Chuang said.
In explaining the definition of a "combative Cabinet," Chuang quoted Yu as saying that the term means the new Cabinet will face challenges courageously and take the initiative to identify problems and solve them without hesitation.
Yu appointed the 39 members of the "combative Cabinet" between Jan. 21 and Jan. 24. Eight of them are women and 16 are holdovers from the previous Cabinet. The average age of the new Cabinet members is 53 years old.
DETERRENCE: With 1,000 indigenous Hsiung Feng II and III missiles and 400 Harpoon missiles, the nation would boast the highest anti-ship missile density in the world With Taiwan wrapping up mass production of Hsiung Feng II and III missiles by December and an influx of Harpoon missiles from the US, Taiwan would have the highest density of anti-ship missiles in the world, a source said yesterday. Taiwan is to wrap up mass production of the indigenous anti-ship missiles by the end of year, as the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology has been meeting production targets ahead of schedule, a defense official with knowledge of the matter said. Combined with the 400 Harpoon anti-ship missiles Taiwan expects to receive from the US by 2028, the nation would have
North Korea yesterday fired about 10 ballistic missiles to the sea toward Japan, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, days after Pyongyang warned of “terrible consequences” over ongoing South Korea-US military drills. Pyongyang recently dashed hopes of a diplomatic thaw with Seoul, Washington’s security ally, describing its latest peace efforts as a “clumsy, deceptive farce.” Seoul’s military detected “around 10 ballistic missiles launched from the Sunan area in North Korea toward the East Sea [Sea of Japan] at around 1:20pm,” JCS said in a statement, referring to South Korea’s name for the body of water. The missiles
‘UNWAVERING FRIENDSHIP’: A representative of a Japanese group that co-organized a memorial, said he hopes Japanese never forget Taiwan’s kindness President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday marked the 15th anniversary of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, urging continued cooperation between Taiwan and Japan on disaster prevention and humanitarian assistance. Lai wrote on social media that Taiwan and Japan have always helped each other in the aftermath of major disasters. The magnitude 9 earthquake struck northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011, triggering a massive tsunami that claimed more than 19,000 lives, according to data from Japanese authorities. Following the disaster, Taiwan donated more than US$240 million in aid, making it one of the largest contributors of financial assistance to Japan. In addition to cash donations and
North Korea tested nuclear-capable rocket launchers, state media reported yesterday, a day after Seoul detected the launch of about 10 ballistic missiles. The test comes after South Korean and US forces launched their springtime military drills, due to run until Thursday. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Saturday oversaw the testing of the multiple rocket launcher system (MRLS), the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. The test involved 12 600mm-caliber ultra-precision multiple rocket launchers and two artillery companies, it said. Kim said the drill gave Pyongyang’s enemies, within the 420km striking range, a sense of “uneasiness” and “a deep understanding
RSS