President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) new administration came into shape yesterday with the near confirmation of a number of appointments and confirmation that premier-designate Sean Chen would preside over a handover ceremony on Monday.
Chen indirectly confirmed that Council for Economic Planning and Development Minister Christina Liu (劉憶如) would replace Lee Sush-der (李述德) as minister of finance and that former minister without portfolio Yiin Chii-ming (尹啟銘) would succeed Liu as the council’s head.
Lee will likely become a minister without portfolio. Joining him in the ranks of ministers without portfolio will be Kuan Chung-ming (管中閔) of Academia Sinica and professor of finance at National Taiwan University, and Yang Chiu-hsing (楊秋興), former Kaohsiung County commissioner and a former member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Photo: George Tsorng, Taipei Times
Minister of Economic Affairs Shih Yen-shiang (施顏祥) will remain at his post.
Chen deflected criticism by some DPP lawmakers that with so many “old faces,” the reshuffle was “political patronage” provided to Liu and Yiin in return for their work during the campaign to help get Ma re-elected on Jan. 14.
This was a reference to Liu’s role in the Yu Chang Biologics Co (宇昌生技股份有限公司) case targeting DPP presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and Yiin’s spirited defense of Ma’s cross-strait economic policies.
Chen said he had not confirmed the appointments of Liu and Yiin, but rushed to defend their professionalism.
“We all know that the TAIEX generally reflects investors’ views. If people were not satisfied with the new Cabinet lineup in the economic and financial departments, the stock market would not have reacted in that way,” Chen said.
The TAIEX opened higher yesterday — the first trading day after the Lunar New Year holiday — rising 165.01 points from its previous close of 7,398.70 on turnover of NT$8.062 billion (US$268.73 million). It closed up 173.72 points, or 2.4 percent, at 7,407.41, on turnover of NT$140.51 billion.
“Everyone says they want ‘fresh faces’ in the Cabinet. However, when fresh faces are brought in, people worry whether they have sufficient experience and feel uncomfortable,” Chen said.
“When Liu was in the legislature, she was a member of the Finance Committee for two sessions in a row. She also participated in financial reform projects under the previous DPP and the Chinese Nationalist Party [KMT] administrations. She is no stranger to financial problems,” he said.
Chen also praised Yiin for his “profound understanding” of the nation’s industrial structure.
“Yiin is a specialist in Taiwan’s industrial development and industry transformation is what Taiwan badly needs. We need a veteran,” he said.
Later yesterday, government sources revealed that National Central University president Chiang Wei-ling (蔣偉寧) would replace Wu Ching-ji (吳清基) as minister of education.
In related news, KMT Central Policy Committee chief executive Lin Yih-shih (林益世), who failed in his legislative re-election bid, was appointed secretary-general of the Executive Yuan.
Council of Agriculture Minister Chen Wu-hsiung (陳武雄) told reporters yesterday that he had been informed that he would not remain in the Cabinet.
Sources said Council of Labor Affairs Minister Jennifer Wang (王如玄), Department of Health Minister Chiu Wen-ta (邱文達) and Environmental Protection Administration Minister Stephen Shen (沈世宏) would remain in their posts.
The second stage of a Cabinet reshuffle — this one relating to cross-strait relations, foreign affairs and defense, as well as national security — will take place before Ma’s inauguration on May 20.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Timothy Yang (楊進添) and Minister of National Defense Kao Hua-chu (高華柱) are likely to leave their positions, sources said. Yang and former KMT legislator John Chiang (蔣孝嚴) were mentioned as a possible successor to National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Hu Wei-jen (胡為真), while Hu and his predecessor, Su Chi (蘇起), were said to be possible replacements as the nation’s representative to the US, a position currently held by Jason Yuan (袁健生).
The Cabinet is expected to resign en masse today and the new Cabinet lineup is to be announced the same day.
Asked for comment on a possible reassignment, Yang was philosophical.
“I believe there are better, more suitable candidates to take over my position,” the 70-year-old veteran diplomat said, adding that he was awaiting “arrangements and guidance from his superiors.”
Yang is said to be a favorite to take over the National Security Council.
“I do not have any information on this,” Yang said, adding that he had only read about the rumor in the newspaper.
Meanwhile, Minister of Transportation and Communications Mao Chi-kuo (毛治國) declined to comment on the reshuffle, saying he had resigned and was awaiting further instructions from the Executive Yuan.
Speaking at a ceremony at the ministry yesterday morning, Mao gave a passing grade — but “just so” — to the ministry’s performance in facilitating transportation during the Lunar New Year holiday.
However, he said he had helped remove three “landmines” in the ministry since taking office in 2008, including the financial quagmire facing Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp (台灣高鐵), the problematic freeway electronic toll collection (ETC) system and the controversial Suhua Freeway project.
Mao said another landmine was the debt-ridden Taiwan Railway Administration.
The ministry will start seeking solutions this year, he said.
Despite his reluctance to talk about the Cabinet reorganization, Mao said that Deputy Minister of Transportation and Communications Kuo Tsai Wen (郭蔡文) would serve as full-time chairman of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Corp.
Kuo Tsai will replace the current chairman, Yeh Kuang-shih (葉匡時), who also serves as deputy minister of transportation and communications.
Additional reporting by Shelley Shan and CNA
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