Premier-designate Lin Chuan (林全) yesterday filled out his future Cabinet, including three ministers to handle national defense, foreign affairs and cross-strait relations, in preparation for the handover of power on May 20.
David Lee (李大維), a seasoned diplomat who is currently the representative to Australia, is to take over the foreign affairs portfolio, Lin said.
Lee, 66, holds a doctorate in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia. He has also served as the nation’s representative to the US, Canada and the EU.
Photo: CNA
Another experienced diplomat, Katharine Chang (張小月), 63, is to head the Mainland Affairs Council, the top government agency in charge of China policy, Lin said.
Chang is the chairperson of the Coordination Council for North American Affairs under the foreign ministry.
The Ministry of National Defense is to be headed by Feng Shih-kuan (馮世寬), a former air force general and former chairman of Aerospace Industrial Development Corp (AIDC, 漢翔航空工業), Lin said.
Feng recently accompanied president-elect Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on a visit to AIDC, during which she said the company would play a very important role in the country’s national defense industry.
AIDC would focus on the research and development of advanced trainer aircraft, Tsai said.
Feng’s appointment underscores Tsai’s determination to push for the nation’s self-reliance in the production of aircraft and warships.
Tsai also named two new members of her incoming administration, Lin Bih-jaw (林碧炤), who is to serve as the Presidential Office secretary-general, and Democratic Progressive Party Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), who is to take up the post of National Security Council secretary-general.
Lin Bih-jaw, 67, has a doctorate in international politics from the University of Wales.
He has served as vice president of National Chengchi University and deputy secretary-general of the Presidential Office and the National Security Council.
Wu, 61, who holds a doctorate in political science from Ohio State University, is a former representative to the US.
FIREPOWER: On top of the torpedoes, the military would procure Kestrel II anti-tank weapons systems to replace aging license-produced M72 LAW launchers Taiwan is to receive US-made Mark 48 torpedoes and training simulators over the next three years, following delays that hampered the navy’s operational readiness, the Ministry of National Defense’s latest budget proposal showed. The navy next year would acquire four training simulator systems for the torpedoes and take receipt of 14 torpedoes in 2027 and 10 torpedoes in 2028, the ministry said in its budget for the next fiscal year. The torpedoes would almost certainly be utilized in the navy’s two upgraded Chien Lung-class submarines and the indigenously developed Hai Kun, should the attack sub successfully reach operational status. US President Donald Trump
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) is expected to start construction of its 1.4-nanometer chip manufacturing facilities at the Central Taiwan Science Park (CTSP, 中部科學園區) as early as October, the Chinese-language Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister newspaper) reported yesterday, citing the park administration. TSMC acquired land for the second phase of the park’s expansion in Taichung in June. Large cement, construction and facility engineering companies in central Taiwan have reportedly been receiving bids for TSMC-related projects, the report said. Supply-chain firms estimated that the business opportunities for engineering, equipment and materials supply, and back-end packaging and testing could reach as high as
ALL QUIET: The Philippine foreign secretary told senators she would not respond to questions about whether Lin Chia-lung was in the country The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday confirmed that a business delegation is visiting the Philippines, but declined to say whether Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) is part of the group, as Philippine lawmakers raised questions over Lin’s reported visit. The group is being led by Deputy Minister of Agriculture Huang Chao-chin (黃昭欽), Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association (CIECA) chairman Joseph Lyu (呂桔誠) and US-Taiwan Business Council (USTBC) vice president Lotta Danielsson, the ministry said in a statement. However, sources speaking on condition of anonymity said that Lin is leading the delegation of 70 people. Filinvest New Clark City Innovation Park
TPP RALLY: The clashes occurred near the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall on Saturday at a rally to mark the anniversary of a raid on former TPP chairman Ko Wen-je People who clashed with police at a Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) rally in Taipei on Saturday would be referred to prosecutors for investigation, said the Ministry of the Interior, which oversees the National Police Agency. Taipei police had collected evidence of obstruction of public officials and coercion by “disorderly” demonstrators, as well as contraventions of the Assembly and Parade Act (集會遊行法), the ministry said in a statement on Sunday. It added that amid the “severe pushing and jostling” by some demonstrators, eight police officers were injured, including one who was sent to hospital after losing consciousness, allegedly due to heat stroke. The Taipei
RSS