Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday announced a new Cabinet line-up, changing key posts with a heavy focus on economics.
The premier introduced nine incoming Cabinet members, most notably new minister of economic affairs Steve Chen (陳瑞隆), an outgoing vice minister of the economic affairs. Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) chairman Shih Jun-ji (施俊吉), a outgoing policymaking member of the FSC; and Taiwan Stock Exchange Corp (TSE) chairman Gordon Chen (陳樹), a outgoing vice minister of finance.
The new appointments allow the premier to better make his mark on the Cabinet, as all of the appointees replace people who had been chosen by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).
PHOTO: CHU PEI-HSIUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
A high-ranking Cabinet official who spoke on condition of anonymity said that there were a number of reasons for Su to shuffle the posts at this time.
First, the official said, as this is the first shuffle since the president announced in June that he would no longer be involved in Cabinet affairs, it consolidates Su's authority as premier.
Also, the Conference on Sustaining Taiwan's Economic Development held last week provided Su with a good opportunity to focus on economic issues.
PHOTO: LO PEI-DER, TAIPEI TIMES
Finally, Su is leaving for a visit to Chad tomorrow.
When asked whether Chen had been notified of the new personnel arrangements, Su said that the president had already authorized him to take action.
"He [the president] cares about this issue, for sure. But he told me already that I was fully authorized to take care of this myself. When my decision was made, I reported it to the president at the first opportunity," Su said.
PHOTO: TSENG HUI-WEN, TAIPEI TIMES
Among the new posts, the FSC chairmanship was among the most discussed yesterday, because former chairman Kong Jaw-sheng (
However, Su said that recent decisions involving a media watchdog agency gave him the legal authority to appoint a new FSC chief, even though Kong had not resigned.
"According to applicable personnel laws, in the event that someone is suspended, the position will be regarded as a vacancy that can be filled," Su said. "The FSC chairman's spot cannot be left vacant forever."
As of press time, Kong had not said whether he would legally challenge the new appointment.
Other appointments include Research, Development and Evaluation Commission (RDEC) minister Shih Nun-jeh (施能傑), vice minister of the interior Lin Mei-chu (林美珠), Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics vice minister Lu Du-chin (鹿篤瑾), RDEC vice minister Liu Chien-hsin (劉建忻), TSE general manager Hsu Jen-shou (許仁壽) and GRETAI Securities Market chairman Lu Daung-yen (呂東英).
Meanwhile, additional Cabinet appointments will be made when Su returns to Taiwan after his visit to Chad, Cabinet officials said.
also see stories:
Steve Chen outlines economic goals
New FSC chief vows to rebuild trust in watchdog
Gordon Chen appointed stock exchange chairman
In his National Day Rally speech on Sunday, Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (黃循財) quoted the Taiwanese song One Small Umbrella (一支小雨傘) to describe his nation’s situation. Wong’s use of such a song shows Singapore’s familiarity with Taiwan’s culture and is a perfect reflection of exchanges between the two nations, Representative to Singapore Tung Chen-yuan (童振源) said yesterday in a post on Facebook. Wong quoted the song, saying: “As the rain gets heavier, I will take care of you, and you,” in Mandarin, using it as a metaphor for Singaporeans coming together to face challenges. Other Singaporean politicians have also used Taiwanese songs
NORTHERN STRIKE: Taiwanese military personnel have been training ‘in strategic and tactical battle operations’ in Michigan, a former US diplomat said More than 500 Taiwanese troops participated in this year’s Northern Strike military exercise held at Lake Michigan by the US, a Pentagon-run news outlet reported yesterday. The Michigan National Guard-sponsored drill involved 7,500 military personnel from 36 nations and territories around the world, the Stars and Stripes said. This year’s edition of Northern Strike, which concluded on Sunday, simulated a war in the Indo-Pacific region in a departure from its traditional European focus, it said. The change indicated a greater shift in the US armed forces’ attention to a potential conflict in Asia, it added. Citing a briefing by a Michigan National Guard senior
CHIPMAKING INVESTMENT: J.W. Kuo told legislators that Department of Investment Review approval would be needed were Washington to seek a TSMC board seat Minister of Economic Affairs J.W. Kuo (郭智輝) yesterday said he received information about a possible US government investment in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) and an assessment of the possible effect on the firm requires further discussion. If the US were to invest in TSMC, the plan would need to be reviewed by the Department of Investment Review, Kuo told reporters ahead of a hearing of the legislature’s Economics Committee. Kuo’s remarks came after US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick on Tuesday said that the US government is looking into the federal government taking equity stakes in computer chip manufacturers that
CLAMPING DOWN: At the preliminary stage on Jan. 1 next year, only core personnel of the military, the civil service and public schools would be subject to inspections Regular checks are to be conducted from next year to clamp down on military personnel, civil servants and public-school teachers with Chinese citizenship or Chinese household registration, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday. Article 9-1 of the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例) stipulates that Taiwanese who obtain Chinese household registration or a Chinese passport would be deprived of their Taiwanese citizenship and lose their right to work in the military, public service or public schools, it said. To identify and prevent the illegal employment of holders of Chinese ID cards or
RSS