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.
CALL FOR SUPPORT: President William Lai called on lawmakers across party lines to ensure the livelihood of Taiwanese and that national security is protected President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday called for bipartisan support for Taiwan’s investment in self-defense capabilities at the christening and launch of two coast guard vessels at CSBC Corp, Taiwan’s (台灣國際造船) shipyard in Kaohsiung. The Taipei (台北) is the fourth and final ship of the Chiayi-class offshore patrol vessels, and the Siraya (西拉雅) is the Coast Guard Administration’s (CGA) first-ever ocean patrol vessel, the government said. The Taipei is the fourth and final ship of the Chiayi-class offshore patrol vessels with a displacement of about 4,000 tonnes, Lai said. This ship class was ordered as a result of former president Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) 2018
‘SECRETS’: While saying China would not attack during his presidency, Donald Trump declined to say how Washington would respond if Beijing were to take military action US President Donald Trump said that China would not take military action against Taiwan while he is president, as the Chinese leaders “know the consequences.” Trump made the statement during an interview on CBS’ 60 Minutes program that aired on Sunday, a few days after his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) in South Korea. “He [Xi] has openly said, and his people have openly said at meetings, ‘we would never do anything while President Trump is president,’ because they know the consequences,” Trump said in the interview. However, he repeatedly declined to say exactly how Washington would respond in
WARFARE: All sectors of society should recognize, unite, and collectively resist and condemn Beijing’s cross-border suppression, MAC Minister Chiu Chui-cheng said The number of Taiwanese detained because of legal affairs by Chinese authorities has tripled this year, as Beijing intensified its intimidation and division of Taiwanese by combining lawfare and cognitive warfare, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday. MAC Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) made the statement in response to questions by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Puma Shen (沈柏洋) about the government’s response to counter Chinese public opinion warfare, lawfare and psychological warfare. Shen said he is also being investigated by China for promoting “Taiwanese independence.” He was referring to a report published on Tuesday last week by China’s state-run Xinhua news agency,
‘ADDITIONAL CONDITION’: Taiwan will work with like-minded countries to protect its right to participate in next year’s meeting, the foreign ministry said The US will “continue to press China for security arrangements and protocols that safeguard all participants when attending APEC meetings in China,” a US Department of State spokesperson said yesterday, after Beijing suggested that members must adhere to its “one China principle” to participate. “The United States insists on the full and equal participation of all APEC member economies — including Taiwan — consistent with APEC’s guidelines, rules and established practice, as affirmed by China in its offer to host in 2026,” the unnamed spokesperson said in response to media queries about China putting a “one China” principle condition on Taiwan’s
RSS