National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Su Chi (蘇起) unexpectedly resigned yesterday, citing health and family reasons. He declined to confirm whether he stepped down to take responsibility for the controversy surrounding US beef imports.
In a press conference at the Presidential Office, Su said he had completed his “phase mission” of promoting more cross-strait exchanges while maintaining national dignity.
“The two sides of the Taiwan Strait are far from war. Both sides are benefiting economically and politically through frequent cross-strait exchanges and negotiations, while flexible diplomacy is successfully bringing more space and dignity to Taiwan,” Su said.
Su said he had devoted his efforts to building mutual trust between Taiwan and China, and expressed his expectation that such cross-strait relations would not be damaged by “internal grudges and resentment” in Taiwan.
He thanked President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) for trusting him with the position, and said he would spend more time with his family.
Ma appointed Su as NSC secretary-general before formally assuming the presidency in May 2008. Su’s appointment came as no surprise, as he was a long-time friend and top aide of Ma’s.
The opposition camp has urged Su to resign to shoulder responsibility for fallout over a US beef protocol because he proposed signing it without public support.
Su yesterday did not comment on whether he resigned to take responsibility for the beef debacle, and did not take any questions from the press.
Presidential Office Spokesman Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) later denied that the US beef policy was the reason for Su’s resignation, and said Su resigned because of personal reasons.
Wang said Ma respected Su’s decision and approved his resignation after failing to convince him to stay in the job. Ma considered Su his “best aide” and most trusted adviser on matters of foreign relations and national security, and expected him to continue to offer advice, Wang said.
Hu Wei-jen (胡為真), former representative to Singapore, will formally take over as NSC secretary-general on Feb. 23, Wang said.
Currently an associate professor at National Chengchi University’s Department of Diplomacy, Hu is the son of former general Hu Tsung-nan (胡宗南), who won the affection of former dictator Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) because of his anti-Japanese efforts.
Hu Wei-jen, a 62-year-old career diplomat, received his bachelor’s degree in diplomacy from National Chengchi University, a master’s in foreign service from Georgetown University and later earned his doctorate in international politics at the University of Pretoria.
During the previous Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government, Hu Wei-jen was the deputy chief of the National Security Bureau and later National Security Council deputy secretary-general under the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration.
He was also appointed as the country’s top envoy to Germany and Singapore under the DPP government. In 2007, Hu resigned his post in Singapore and publicly criticized the DPP for its anti-Chiang policies.
KMT caucus deputy secretary-general Lin Hung-chih (林鴻池) yesterday said the caucus respected Su’s decision.
KMT Legislator Lu Hsueh-chang (呂學樟) added that Su leaving demonstrated he was taking responsibility for the negative publicity he had brought to the KMT over the beef protocol.
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