Freshman DPP Legislator-at-large Liu Shih-fang (劉世芳) will take over the role of Cabinet secretary-general from Lee Ying-yuan (李應元), who is running for Taipei mayor at the end of the year, Premier Yu Shyi-kun confirmed yesterday
"Since the secretary-general is to leave the Cabinet soon, the Cabinet has decided to appoint DPP legislator-at-large and the party's veteran Central Standing Committee member, Liu Shih-fang, to be his successor," Yu told reporters before he delivered a speech on the Cabinet's six-year national development project at the Taipei Metro (
At 42, Liu will become the youngest-ever Cabinet secretary-general and the first woman to take the position. Lee is expected to step down from his post on June 25 when the DPP is scheduled to announce his candidacy.
Yu yesterday dismissed speculation that he appointed Liu, a member of the party's New Tide faction, to reduce factional discord within the DPP.
"Her appointment doesn't have anything to do with factional balance or inequality," Yu said.
Both President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Yu are from the party's Justice Alliance faction, and some of the factions have grumbled that they are underrepresented in important government positions.
Although Liu was not the only possible candidate at the beginning, Yu said, she remained at the top of the list.
"She eventually emerged as the final candidate because she not only is a veteran Central Standing Committee member but is also a lawmaker," Yu said.
"In addition, she has extensive administrative experience and is an outstanding woman."
Liu, who holds a masters degree in environmental engineering from Oklahoma University, once served as the director of the Bureau of Environmental Protection at the Taipei City Government when Chen was mayor.
She later took up the post of deputy commissioner of Taichung County.
Accompanied by DPP legislative whips Wang Tuoh (王拓), Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) and Hsu Jung-shu (許榮淑), Liu told a press conference held at the Legislative Yuan yesterday afternoon that she will accept the new challenge and strive to do a good job.
"The new job marks a new beginning for my political career and means new responsibility," she said.
The three legislative whips all voiced their support for Liu.
"I'm happy that the Cabinet has found such an outstanding talent to join its team," Ker said.
Wang said that he expects to see Liu do a better job than Lee.
"I believe she'll outshine her predecessor if she can make good use of her feminine features, such as sensitivity, gentility and keenness," he said.
Hsu, who is the first woman DPP legislator to assume the post of the legislative secretary-general, said that she has total confidence in Liu.
"As an up-and-coming modern woman, she'll definitely make an excellent Cabinet secretary-general," she said.
Liu's legislative position will be filled by former DPP legislator Lin Chung-cheng (
Taipei has once again made it to the top 100 in Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index 2025 report, moving up five places from last year to 60. The annual index, which was published last month, evaluated 1,000 of the most populated metropolises based on five indices — economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. New York maintained its top spot this year, placing first in the economics index thanks to the strength of its vibrant financial industry and economic stability. Taipei ranked 263rd in economics, 44th in human capital, 15th in quality of life, 284th for environment and 75th in governance,
Greenpeace yesterday said that it is to appeal a decision last month by the Taipei High Administrative Court to dismiss its 2021 lawsuit against the Ministry of Economic Affairs over “loose” regulations governing major corporate electricity consumers. The climate-related lawsuit — the first of its kind in Taiwan — sought to require the government to enforce higher green energy thresholds on major corporations to reduce emissions in light of climate change and an uptick in extreme weather. The suit, filed by Greenpeace East Asia, the Environmental Jurists Association and four individual plaintiffs, was dismissed on May 8 following four years of litigation. The
A former officer in China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) who witnessed the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre has warned that Taiwan could face a similar fate if China attempts to unify the country by force. Li Xiaoming (李曉明), who was deployed to Beijing as a junior officer during the crackdown, said Taiwanese people should study the massacre carefully, because it offers a glimpse of what Beijing is willing to do to suppress dissent. “What happened in Tiananmen Square could happen in Taiwan too,” Li told CNA in a May 22 interview, ahead of the massacre’s 36th anniversary. “If Taiwanese students or
The New Taipei City Government would assist relatives of those killed or injured in last month’s car-ramming incident in Sansia District (三峽) to secure compensation, Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said yesterday, two days after the driver died in a hospital. “The city government will do its best to help the relatives of the car crash incident seek compensation,” Hou said. The mayor also said that the city’s Legal Affairs, Education and Social Welfare departments have established a joint mechanism to “provide coordinated assistance” to victims and their families. Three people were killed and 12 injured when a car plowed into schoolchildren and their