Premier-designate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) unveiled most of the new Cabinet yesterday as the Chen administration attempted to ease tensions with both China and opposition parties at home.
In his first meeting with the international media since being appointed premier, the Kaohsiung mayor set a moderate tone for dealing with Beijing.
"I think it is essential to improve the atmosphere between the two sides," Hsieh said. "We should stop policies or language that provoke one another. My administration should be consistent and predictable, to move toward reconciliation and cooperation."
Hsieh takes charge of the Cabinet at a crucial time in cross-strait relations, with Beijing poised to enact an anti-secession law in March that the government fears will give China a legal basis to attack Taiwan.
"I don't think it is necessary to provoke mainland China, verbally or with our behavior," Hsieh said.
Hsieh said that he would only ask state companies to drop the word "China" from their names if there was a practical reason -- such as avoiding confusion with Chinese firms -- thus reining in the more aggressive approach to the matter adopted by outgoing Premier Yu Shyi-kun.
"I received a lot of challenges from pro-independence leaders regarding this issue but I will do it anyway," Hsieh said.
"I think the Cabinet can suggest practical policies, like the Lunar New Year charter flights, or other measures such as cooperating on a crackdown on cross-strait crime," he said, when asked how he could help improve cross-strait relations.
Direct charter flights are set to commence today, which are hoped will lead to better cross-strait communication.
"The charter flights are a very good example for improving cross-strait relations. We started with consultation and helped decrease tensions," Hsieh said.
During a tea party held yesterday for the new Cabinet, Hsieh named 2005 "a year for Taiwan's health."
"Every year should have a name and a goal for development," Hsieh said. "I think the whole of Taiwan's society has been under a lot of pressure. Everyone needs to reduce pressure and make life happier, so I have named this year `a year for Taiwan's health.'"
Hsieh said the new Cabinet will focus on communication and dialogue with local governments, the legislature and within the ministries.
The government would also improve services and increase convenience for the public, Hsieh said.
"The reason a government exists is to serve the public, isn't it," he added.
Hsieh confirmed that Vice Premier Yeh Chu-lan (
Two confirmed additions to the Cabinet are Minister of Justice-designate Morley Shih (
Reports also said that Democratic Progressive Party Deputy Secretary-General Lee Ying-yuan (李應元) would become Cabinet secretary-general, but Hsieh said that he had no knowledge of the matter.
Hsieh said that the post of vice premier was still open, and he said he had not given up on the possibility of naming an opposition figure as his deputy.
He added that he would announce the names of the vice premier, the secretary-general and other posts on Monday.
"In the past, it was easy to just yell at one another. But now we have to cooperate, we have to find a new model of working together," Hsieh said.
Hsieh had invited Deputy Legislative Speaker Chiang Pin-kun (
Taiwanese Olympic badminton men’s doubles gold medalist Wang Chi-lin (王齊麟) and his new partner, Chiu Hsiang-chieh (邱相榤), clinched the men’s doubles title at the Yonex Taipei Open yesterday, becoming the second Taiwanese team to win a title in the tournament. Ranked 19th in the world, the Taiwanese duo defeated Kang Min-hyuk and Ki Dong-ju of South Korea 21-18, 21-15 in a pulsating 43-minute final to clinch their first doubles title after teaming up last year. Wang, the men’s doubles gold medalist at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, partnered with Chiu in August last year after the retirement of his teammate Lee Yang
US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer began talks with high-ranking Chinese officials in Switzerland yesterday aiming to de-escalate a dispute that threatens to cut off trade between the world’s two biggest economies and damage the global economy. The US delegation has begun meetings in Geneva with a Chinese delegation led by Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng (何立峰), Xinhua News Agency said. Diplomats from both sides also confirmed that the talks have begun, but spoke anonymously and the exact location of the talks was not made public. Prospects for a major breakthrough appear dim, but there is
The number of births in Taiwan fell to an all-time monthly low last month, while the population declined for the 16th consecutive month, Ministry of the Interior data released on Friday showed. The number of newborns totaled 8,684, which is 704 births fewer than in March and the lowest monthly figure on record, the ministry said. That is equivalent to roughly one baby born every five minutes and an annual crude birthrate of 4.52 per 1,000 people, the ministry added. Meanwhile, 17,205 deaths were recorded, resulting in a natural population decrease of 8,521, the data showed. More people are also leaving Taiwan, with net
FALSE DOCUMENTS? Actor William Liao said he was ‘voluntarily cooperating’ with police after a suspect was accused of helping to produce false medical certificates Police yesterday questioned at least six entertainers amid allegations of evasion of compulsory military service, with Lee Chuan (李銓), a member of boy band Choc7 (超克7), and actor Daniel Chen (陳大天) among those summoned. The New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office in January launched an investigation into a group that was allegedly helping men dodge compulsory military service using falsified medical documents. Actor Darren Wang (王大陸) has been accused of being one of the group’s clients. As the investigation expanded, investigators at New Taipei City’s Yonghe Precinct said that other entertainers commissioned the group to obtain false documents. The main suspect, a man surnamed
RSS