Minister of National Defense Andrew Yang (楊念祖) resigned last night in the wake of plagiarism allegations, just six days after taking office.
Yang told a 9:30pm press conference at the Ministry of National Defense that some portions of a book he published in 2007 had been ghostwritten by friends, who allegedly lifted material from other works without proper citation.
Yang acknowledged his “personal negligence” and said he had decided to resign to preserve the reputation of the Cabinet, the military and President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).
He said he met with Ma and Premier Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) earlier in the evening to tender his resignation, which both men accepted.
Executive Yuan spokesperson Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) said Deputy Minister of National Defense Kao Kuang-chi (高廣圻) will temporarily fill in until a new minister is appointed.
Yang, who has been a member of the advisory committee for formulating national defense reports, specializes in the study of US-Taiwan-China relations and has focused his research on a cross-strait military mutual trust mechanism, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and regional safety.
Yang had replaced Kao Hua-chu (高華柱), who resigned over the death of army corporal Hung Chung-chiu (洪仲丘).
Additional reporting by staff writer and CNA
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